GA Quiz For NABARD DA Mains 2026: Check Important General Awareness Questions and Practice Quiz

The State Bank of India (SBI) has launched CHAKRA, a Centre of Excellence designed to finance sunrise sectors that are crucial for India’s economic transformation and sustainable growth. This initiative will concentrate on various key areas, including renewable energy, electric vehicles, green hydrogen, advanced cell chemistry, battery storage, semiconductors, decarbonisation, data centres, and smart infrastructure. These sectors together hold a remarkable investment potential of approximately ₹100 trillion over the next five years, with SBI identifying a lendable opportunity between ₹20 and ₹22 trillion. To enhance its efforts, SBI has signed memorandums of understanding with 21 financial institutions to facilitate co-financing and build capacity through joint project finance teams located at CHAKRA. The initiative has welcomed global participation, including notable Japanese banks such as SMBC and MUFG, as well as Indian development finance institutions like PFC, REC, and NaBFID, with ongoing discussions involving European and US banks. CHAKRA is set to support informed decision-making through the creation of white papers, sector reports, knowledge series, industry roundtables, and policy dialogues. The Centre aims to foster structured engagement with development finance institutions, multilateral agencies, banks, non-banking financial companies (NBFCs), industry bodies, corporates, startups, academia, and policy think tanks. Through this initiative, SBI seeks to enhance its capabilities, promote innovation-focused enterprises, and improve the flow of capital to sectors that are pivotal for steering India towards a technology-led and sustainable future, building upon its previous success with the MSME Centre of Excellence.

The Central Bank of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) has taken a significant step in the realm of digital assets by approving the country’s first USD-backed stablecoin, named USDU. This approval comes under the Payment Token Services Regulation, establishing a regulatory framework for payment tokens. USDU is issued and managed by Universal Digital International Limited, which operates under the oversight of the Financial Services Regulatory Authority in Abu Dhabi Global Market (ADGM). With this approval, Universal Digital has made history as the first foreign payment token issuer to be registered with the UAE Central Bank. This move positions the UAE as one of the leading financial jurisdictions to adopt a fully regulated framework for USD-denominated digital settlements. Stablecoins, like USDU, are cryptocurrencies pegged to reserve assets such as the US dollar, designed to minimise price volatility and facilitate payments, settlements, and cross-border transfers on blockchain systems. The Payment Token Services Regulation outlines specific rules regarding the issuance, reserve backing, and governance of payment tokens. Furthermore, it allows foreign payment tokens to be registered, provided they meet the established disclosure, custody, and compliance standards. USDU, in particular, is pegged at a 1:1 ratio to the U.S. dollar, with reserves securely held in prominent UAE-based banks, including Emirates NBD and Mashreq, with Mbank acting as a strategic partner. Importantly, the framework restricts the use of foreign payment tokens, concentrating on cross-border settlements, digital asset transactions, and regulated financial activities, rather than serving as a replacement for cash or domestic payment methods. This approval is the culmination of years of regulatory preparation in the UAE, addressing potential risks such as reserve opacity and governance issues that have plagued global stablecoin initiatives in the past. By distinguishing domestic payment systems from foreign payment tokens, the UAE aims to provide a controlled and transparent USD-linked token within a compliant banking environment. This initiative is particularly relevant for institutions engaged in financial activities across the Middle East, Africa, and Asia. Ultimately, the framework emphasises the importance of control, reserve transparency, and a limited operational scope, drawing valuable lessons from previous market disruptions instead of promoting widespread retail adoption.

India has added two new wetlands to the Ramsar List of Wetlands of International Importance, strengthening its global commitment to wetland and biodiversity conservation. The newly designated sites are Patna Bird Sanctuary in Etah district, Uttar Pradesh, andChhari-Dhandin Kutch district, Gujarat. With this addition, India’s total Ramsar sites have increased to 98. The recognition has been granted under the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands, an international treaty adopted in 1971 at Ramsar, Iran, for the conservation and wise use of wetlands. India became a signatory to the Ramsar Convention in 1982. Patna Bird Sanctuary is a freshwater wetland located in the Gangetic plains. It supports a large number of resident and migratory bird species. During winter, it serves as an important habitat for migratory birds from Central Asia and Siberia, highlighting its ecological significance. Chhari-Dhand is a seasonal saline wetland located in the arid landscape of Kutch. Despite harsh climatic conditions, it supports migratory birds, desert wildlife, and rich biodiversity. The wetland is home to species such as chinkara, wolf, caracal, desert cat, desert fox, and several endangered bird species. The expansion of India’s Ramsar network reflects a rise from 26 sites in 2014 to 98 sites in 2026, showing a growth of over 276 per cent. The development underscores India’s commitment to ecosystem protection, biodiversity conservation, climate regulation, flood control, and groundwater recharge under global environmental frameworks.

The Supreme Court of India has declared menstrual health and hygiene as an integral part of the Right to Life and Personal Liberty under Article 21 of the Constitution. The Court directed all States and Union Territories to ensure free sanitary pads, separate toilets, water supply and safe disposal facilities in all government and private schools. A three-month deadline has been given for compliance. The ruling treats menstrual hygiene as a constitutional obligation, not merely a welfare measure, noting that lthe ack of facilities forces girls out of classrooms due to stigma and exclusion. The judgment was delivered by a Bench of Justice J B Pardiwala and Justice R Mahadevan. The Court held that Menstrual Hygiene Management (MHM) is inseparable from the right to live with dignity. It was observed that dignity must be reflected in everyday living conditions, and denial of basic menstrual facilities leads to humiliation, exclusion and avoidable suffering, violating Article 21.  All schools, government and private, urban and rural, must provide functional gender- segregated toilets with:

• Continuous water connectivity

• Privacy and hand-washing facilities with soap

• Accessibility for children with disabilities

Private schools failing to comply may face de-recognition, while State governments will be held directly accountable for lapses in government schools. Schools must provide free oxo-biodegradable sanitary napkins compliant with ASTM D-6954 standards. Sanitary pads should preferably be supplied through vending machines installed inside toilets. Where vending machines are not feasible, pads must be made available through designated school authorities. The Court also mandated safe, hygienic and environmentally compliant disposal mechanisms in line with the Solid Waste Management Rules . Schools must establish MHM corners equipped with:

• Spare uniforms and innerwear

• Disposable bags and essential emergency materials

These measures aim to reduce absenteeism and school dropouts linked to menstruation- related fear or discomfort. To address stigma, the Court directed the National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT) and the State Council of Educational Research and Training (SCERT) to include gender-responsive education on:

• Menstruation and puberty

• Reproductive health issues such as Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS) and Polycystic Ovary Disease (PCOD).

Awareness campaigns must be carried out through print, radio, television, social media and outdoor platforms. The ruling is supported by the Right to Education Act, 2009, particularly Section 19 and its Schedule, which mandate separate toilets for boys and girls and barrier-free access. The Court clarified that barrier-free access includes the removal of menstrual hygiene barriers, as their absence leads to learning gaps and dropouts among adolescent girls.