Unicorn Company: Startups are emerging as the new driving force of India’s defence innovation ecosystem, said Defence Minister recently, while calling upon young entrepreneurs to set new benchmarks and create India’s first defence unicorn. A unicorn company is a privately owned start-up that has been valued at over $1 billion. It is commonly used in […]
Category: Economics Current Affairs
PayPal Onboards India’s UPI as First Payments System Partner
PayPal Onboards India’s UPI as First Payments System Partner: PayPal CEO Alex Chriss announced that India’s Unified Payments Interface (UPI) has become the first payments system partner to be integrated into PayPal World, the company’s newly launched global payments platform. The partnership marks a significant milestone for both PayPal and India’s fintech ecosystem, further enhancing […]
NPCI Launches Biometric and Wearable Glass Authentication for UPI Payments
NPCI Launches Biometric and Wearable Glass Authentication for UPI Payments: The National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI), in collaboration with the Reserve Bank of India (RBI), has unveiled biometric and wearable glass-based authentication for UPI (Unified Payments Interface) transactions. Announced at the Global Fintech Fest 2025 in Mumbai, the new system allows users to authenticate […]
World Bank Ups India’s FY26 Growth Estimate to 6.5%
World Bank Ups India’s FY26 Growth Estimate to 6.5%: The World Bank upgraded India’s GDP growth forecast for FY26 to 6.5%, up from its previous estimate of 6.3% made in June. The revision is attributed to strong domestic demand, resilient rural consumption, and continued gains from Goods and Services Tax (GST) reforms.India is expected to […]
Eli Lilly to Invest $1 Billion in Telangana Pharma Hub
Eli Lilly to Invest $1 Billion in Telangana Pharma Hub: US-based pharma giant Eli Lilly has announced a $1 billion investment in Telangana, strengthening Hyderabad’s role as a global pharma hub. The move reflects rising investor confidence in the state’s ecosystem and is expected to significantly expand global supply chains for key medicines.The announcement came […]
India Launches UPI at Supermarkets in Qatar
India Launches UPI at Supermarkets in Qatar: UPI (Unified Payments Interface) has been launched at Lulu Group’s supermarkets in Qatar. The launch was led by Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal, and comes just weeks after UPI was introduced at Hamad International Airport’s duty-free stores. With this, Qatar becomes the eighth country to adopt UPI, […]
Safeguarding India’s Digital Economy
Safeguarding India’s Digital Economy: The Indian digital economy is in the spotlight after a sharp rise in sophisticated cyber frauds such as phishing, UPI/OTP scams, identity theft, and digital arrests. Over 13.9 lakh cybercrime cases were reported in India in 2023 (NCRB), but experts estimate many go unreported due to stigma or distrust in institutions. […]
Presumptive Taxation
Presumptive Taxation: NITI Aayog, in its first Tax Policy Working Paper (2025), proposed an optional presumptive taxation regime for foreign firms to reduce litigation, simplify compliance, and bring certainty on Permanent Establishment (PE) disputes. Taxation based on a fixed deemed profit percentage of gross receipts, instead of detailed profit attribution through transfer pricing or functional […]
Centre raises MSP for all mandated Rabi crops in 2026‑27 season
Centre raises MSP for all mandated Rabi crops in 2026‑27 season: The Union Cabinet, led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, has approved a significant Minimum Support Price (MSP) hike for all mandated Rabi crops for the 2026‑27 marketing season. This decision aims to ensure better returns for farmers and promote crop diversification. Alongside this, a […]
RBI Sets Up Payments Regulatory Board
RBI Sets Up Payments Regulatory Board: The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has set up a new six-member Payments Regulatory Board (PRB) to oversee and regulate India’s payment systems. This move comes at a time when India’s digital payment landscape is expanding rapidly, requiring more focused and adaptable oversight. The PRB replaces the earlier Board […]
