General Awareness

BUSINESS AND ECONOMY - February 2024

Feb 2024

Sep 14, 2026

Cochin Shipyard signs joint venture with Drydocks World

Cochin Shipyard Limited entered into a 50:50 joint venture with Drydocks World, a DP World company, in September 2026. The partnership aims to operate and expand the International Ship Repair Facility in Kochi. The agreement includes transferring the Willingdon Island facility to the new venture. The deal was formalised during the BRICS Summit 2026 in New Delhi, signaling stronger collaboration in ship repair and maintenance services and positioning Kochi as a regional hub for maritime services. The venture is expected to boost capabilities, attract international clients, and create employment opportunities.

Cochin Shipyard enters 50:50 JV with Drydocks World to run Kochi ship repair facility.
Willingdon Island facility to be transferred to the JV; formalised at BRICS Summit 2026.
Aims to expand international ship repair and maintenance capabilities in Kerala.
Expected to boost employment and attract global clients.

Sep 13, 2026

RBI and SEBI launch Demat 2.0 Pilot for bond tokenisation

On 11 September 2026, the Reserve Bank of India and the Securities and Exchange Board of India launched the Demat 2.0 Pilot to test tokenisation of corporate bonds. The project uses central bank digital currency and blockchain to enable faster settlement and greater market efficiency. Regulators say the pilot will create a trusted digital representation of bond instruments and improve accessibility for investors. Banks and market participants will participate in the pilot, which will run in selected segments for a defined period. The initiative marks a major step in modernising India’s financial market infrastructure.

Demat 2.0 Pilot launched by RBI and SEBI
Date: 11 September 2026
Tokenisation of corporate bonds using CBDC and blockchain
Aim: faster settlement and greater market efficiency
Involves banks and market participants in a phased pilot

Sep 11, 2026

PhonePe launches Cross Border Scan to Pay with Visa at Global Fintech Fest 2026

PhonePe, a leading Indian digital payments platform, announced at Global Fintech Fest 2026 a trio of payment innovations with Visa: Tap to Pay, Cross Border Scan to Pay, and Smart Accept. PhonePe becomes the first Indian app to offer Cross Border Scan to Pay for international transactions, enabling overseas card payments via a smartphone. The integration also bundles Online Device Tokenization, Tap to Pay, and Cross Border Scan to Pay in one ecosystem. Smart Accept expands card-acceptance for micro-merchants, reducing reliance on traditional POS devices. The move could boost cross-border commerce and intensify digital-payments competition in India. This is unfolding as India hosted the BRICS Summit in New Delhi on 12–13 September 2026, underscoring tech cooperation.

PhonePe and Visa launched Tap to Pay, Cross Border Scan to Pay, and Smart Accept.
PhonePe is the first Indian app to enable Cross Border Scan to Pay for international transactions.
Online Device Tokenization, Tap to Pay, and Cross Border Scan to Pay are integrated in one ecosystem.
Smart Accept enables micro-merchants to accept card payments without traditional POS terminals.
BRICS Summit in New Delhi (12–13 September 2026) highlighted technology cooperation and digital-economy themes.

Sep 10, 2026

Gandhinagar construction site accident updates

A major construction site accident occurred in Kudasan, near Gandhinagar, early on 9 September 2026. Authorities reported 15 workers were rescued and 12 were hospitalised; conditions were initially non‑critical. Rescue operations were ongoing, with teams assessing structural integrity and safety protocols. Investigations were launched to determine cause and to review compliance with labour and safety regulations. The incident has drawn attention to construction safety standards in Gujarat and across India, with calls for strengthened oversight and rapid medical assistance for workers in danger. Local officials urged calm while continuing emergency response measures.

Incident location: Kudasan, near Gandhinagar.
15 workers rescued; 12 hospitalised; no initial reports of critical injuries.
Rescue operations and safety reviews under way.
Investigation launched into cause and compliance with safety norms.
Raises concerns about construction site safety standards in India.

Bandhan Bank launches Mastercard‑powered credit card portfolio

Bandhan Bank Limited launched a credit card portfolio in partnership with Mastercard in September 2026. The four variants — Sparks, Ignite, Flare, and Lumina — target different customer segments. Cards operate on the Mastercard network and offer benefits in travel, dining, shopping, entertainment, and international spending via digital‑first features. The portfolio aims to widen access to credit, improve onboarding experiences, and promote secure digital payments. Bandhan Bank executives stated the collaboration would strengthen its payments ecosystem and broaden financial inclusion across rural and semi‑urban India, aligning with national digitisation goals.

Bandhan Bank partners with Mastercard to launch four cards: Sparks, Ignite, Flare, Lumina.
Features include travel, dining, shopping, entertainment, and international use.
Emphasis on digital onboarding and secure payments.
Aims to expand credit access and financial inclusion in rural India.
Part of broader push toward a cashless economy.

Sep 09, 2026

Global Fintech Fest 2026 Opens in Mumbai

Global Fintech Fest (GFF) 2026 opens in Mumbai, Maharashtra, marking its seventh edition. Prime Minister Narendra Modi is slated to inaugurate the festival, which focuses on artificial intelligence, tokenisation, and next‑generation fintech solutions. The event brings together policymakers, financial institutions, technology firms, and start‑ups to explore digital payments, cybersecurity, data governance, and financial inclusion. Organisers say the gathering will showcase India’s evolving fintech ecosystem and opportunities for partnerships, investment, and policy support to accelerate inclusive growth across the economy. Delegates expect announcements on regulatory sandboxes and cross-border payment frameworks to facilitate innovation.

Global Fintech Fest 2026 begins in Mumbai; seventh edition.
PM Modi to inaugurate the festival; focus on AI and tokenisation.
Participants include policymakers, banks, and tech firms.
Topics include digital payments, cybersecurity, and financial inclusion.
Event may feature announcements on regulatory sandboxes and cross-border payments.

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