PSBs Earn ₹28,647 Cr in 5 Years from Third-Party Sales; RBI Proposes Guidelines to Curb Mis-selling from April 2026

Govt Proposes Gold Monetisation via Jewellers: 20,000 Tonne Idle Gold, Demat Deposits, Interest Income

The government is planning a new gold monetisation scheme where jewellers, not banks, will collect physical gold deposits from households, issue demat receipts, and pay interest. This aims to unlock over 20,000 tonnes of idle gold, improve India's trade balance, and reduce import dependence — a key reform for economic stability and current account management.

Maharashtra Proposes DELTA Act for Land Tokenisation; Asset Base Estimated at ₹50 Lakh Crore

Maharashtra is set to become India's first 'tokenised State' by proposing the DELTA Act, which creates a legal framework to convert land ownership into blockchain-based digital tokens. This could unlock an estimated ₹50 lakh crore in state land value and set a template for national adoption of Real World Asset (RWA) tokenisation across gold, bonds, and carbon credits.

RBI Net Sells $14.9 Bn (Jan-May 2026) for Rupee Stability; FCNR(B) Swap, ECB Boost Inflows

RBI's net sale of $14.9 billion in the first five months of 2026 underscores its interventionist approach to curb excessive rupee volatility, a key topic for economy-focused exams. The accompanying measures like the FCNR(B) swap facility and ECB liberalisation are crucial for understanding forex management and capital inflows.

Taxation and Other Laws (Amendment) Bill 2026 Allows MDR on UPI: Subsidy Falls to ₹2,000 Cr in FY27

UPI, currently free for users, may become chargeable after the government introduced the Taxation and Other Laws (Amendment) Bill, 2026. The Bill allows the government to notify transactions that can attract Merchant Discount Rate (MDR), potentially ending the zero-MDR regime. For students, this is a key economy/polity topic linking digital payments, financial inclusion, and fiscal policy.

President Assents to Taxation Act Amendment 2026 and Payment Systems Act Amendment; Replaces June 5 Ordinance on FPI G-Sec Tax Exemption

President Droupadi Murmu has assented to two key Acts: the Taxation and Other Laws (Amendment) Act, 2026, which replaces the June 5 ordinance granting income tax exemption to FPIs on G-Sec investments, and an amendment to the Payment and Settlement Systems Act, 2007. These reforms aim to boost foreign investment and modernize payment systems, relevant for Economy and Banking exams.

RBI Report Flags Resilient Q1 Growth at 7%, Warns of El Nino and Geopolitical Risks

The Indian economy shows robust growth momentum in Q1, driven by consumption, manufacturing, and public capex, but faces headwinds from geopolitical tensions, supply-chain pressures, volatile energy prices, and a strengthening El Niño. The RBI and Finance Ministry reports reinforce this view, with GDP growth projected at 7% for Q1.

Govt Allows MDR on UPI Transactions Above Rs 2,000; Paves Way for Charges on P2M Payments

The government has notified that UPI transactions above Rs 2,000 are no longer exempt from fees, creating legal room to impose Merchant Discount Rate (MDR) on high-value person-to-merchant payments. This shift aims to make the UPI ecosystem financially sustainable, but could affect 66% of UPI transaction value and alter consumer payment behavior.

Taxation (Amendment) Bill 2026: Govt Relaxes EIF Conditions, Removes ₹100 Cr Corpus Rule for Offshore Funds

The government has proposed the Taxation and Other Laws (Amendment) Bill, 2026 to ease tax exemption conditions for offshore funds managed from India, removing several eligibility criteria including minimum investor count and corpus requirement. The Bill also replaces an earlier Ordinance that provided tax relief to FPIs on G-Sec investments. This move aims to boost India's position as a global fund management hub and attract foreign capital.