General Awareness

BUSINESS AND ECONOMY - March 2026

Mar 2026

Jul 29, 2026

RBI polymer banknote trials approved; ₹10 and ₹20 notes tested

On 27 July 2026, the Centre approved the Reserve Bank of India's proposal to conduct field trials of polymer banknotes in the ₹10 and ₹20 denominations. The plan envisages issuing up to 1 billion notes of each denomination for the trials, and these polymer notes would circulate alongside existing paper currency during the testing period. The aim is to test durability, security features and public acceptance before any wider rollout. Government officials emphasise that there is no plan to replace paper currency in the near term. The RBI and the Finance Ministry will monitor logistics, costs and environmental impact, informing future currency strategy.

Centre approved RBI polymer note field trials for ₹10 and ₹20 notes.
Up to 1 billion notes of each denomination planned for trials.
Polymer notes to circulate alongside paper currency during testing.
No immediate replacement of paper currency anticipated.

Jul 23, 2026

EnKash launches UPI-based meal card for employees

EnKash, a business payments and spend management platform, launched India’s first meal card that supports UPI-based payments in July 2026. Employees can use their meal card balance by scanning eligible UPI QR codes at participating food and grocery merchants across the country. The service integrates with existing digital payments infrastructure to simplify expense management for employers and staff. The launch is part of a broader push toward digitization of employee benefits and reimbursement processes, potentially reducing administrative overhead and improving transparency in employee spending.

EnKash unveils India’s first UPI-enabled meal card.
Accessible at participating food and grocery merchants nationwide.
Balances are paid via UPI QR code payments.
Aims to simplify employee benefits and expense management.

Jul 22, 2026

APEDA–UAE food processing partnership aims to export linkages

The Andhra Pradesh Economic Development Board partnered with the UAE to establish an export-oriented food processing cluster. The initiative aims to create a direct value chain connecting agricultural production with international markets. Dubai-based Floor Masters International announced a ₹100-crore processing unit in Chittoor district to process agricultural commodities for global markets. The collaboration could boost technology transfer, cold-chain development, and regulatory alignment for exports, focusing on fruits, vegetables, and spice value chains. The cluster intends to integrate farmers with processors and exporters to raise competitiveness and direct market access for Indian produce.

APEDA–UAE partnership to create export-oriented food processing cluster.
₹100 crore processing unit by Floor Masters International in Chittoor (Dubai-based company).
Aims to connect agricultural production with international markets.
Focus on fruits, vegetables and spices; potential tech transfer and cold-chain development.
Intends strong farmer–processor–exporter linkages to boost competitiveness.

Jul 21, 2026

APEDA facilitates first Uttarakhand- Iraq frozen fries export

The Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA) facilitated the first export of frozen French fries from Uttarakhand to Iraq in July 2026. A total of 24 metric tonnes were shipped by Virun Global Trade Private Limited from Kashipur in Udham Singh Nagar district, marking a milestone for value-added agricultural exports from the hill state. The shipment reflects India’s expanding processed food export portfolio and highlights the role of regional producers in meeting growing Middle East and North African demand for packaged foods.

First export of Uttarakhand frozen fries to Iraq in July 2026.
24 metric tonnes shipped by Virun Global Trade Private Limited.
Export from Kashipur, Udham Singh Nagar district.
Boosts Uttarakhand’s value-added agricultural exports.

Jul 16, 2026

Ladakh apricot export to UAE under MoU with Lulu Retail

Ladakh administration has partnered with Lulu Retail under a Memorandum of Understanding to promote the export of fresh apricots to the United Arab Emirates. The first consignment is planned for July 2026, with a target of exporting 1,000 metric tonnes overall. The programme features the GI-tagged Raktsey Karpo apricot and the Halman variety, both grown in Ladakh's cooler conditions. Officials say the partnership will improve market access for local fruit growers, boost incomes, and strengthen the agri-value chain. The export drive aligns with government aims to expand the geography of Indian agricultural products and diversify exports. Market readiness, cold-chain logistics, and quality controls will be critical.

MoU with Lulu Retail to export Ladakh apricots to UAE.
First consignment planned for July 2026; target 1,000 metric tonnes.
GI-tagged Raktsey Karpo and Halman variety are included.
Aims to improve market access and farmer incomes.
Logistics, cold chain and quality controls are essential.

MRF named India's strongest tyre brand in Brand Finance India 100–2026

MRF Tyres, based in Chennai, was ranked India's strongest tyre brand in the Brand Finance India 100–2026 report, confirming its value and resilience in the Indian market. The company also ranked among the world's top three strongest tyre brands and featured in India's top 50 most valuable brands across industries. The ranking reflects MRF's brand equity in a competitive automotive sector and highlights consumer trust in Indian-manufactured tyres. Industry observers expect ongoing investments in research and marketing to sustain leadership, with potential expansion into new markets and product lines. The Brand Finance ranking also notes resilience during economic slowdowns. This positions MRF as a flagship Indian tyre exporter.

MRF named India's strongest tyre brand in Brand Finance India 100–2026.
Ranked among world's top three tyre brands.
Included in India's top 50 most valuable brands.
Attributed to distribution network, quality and product range.
Expectations of continued R&D and market expansion.

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