Current Affairs - Banking

Punjab National Bank selected Harmanpreet Kaur, captain of the Indian women’s cricket team, as its first female brand ambassador, marking a significant milestone in the bank’s branding and customer outreach efforts. The announcement was made at the bank’s New Delhi corporate office during an event symbolically titled “Banking On Champions.” Senior leadership attended the ceremony, highlighting the importance of the collaboration. Harmanpreet unveiled several new products, including PNB’s first metal credit card, an upgraded digital platform, and initiatives promoting solar solutions and bullion trading. This partnership reflects PNB’s broader focus on empowerment, modernisation, and innovation-driven financial services.

The Constitution (131st Amendment) Bill, 2025 proposes placing Chandigarh under Article 240 of the Indian Constitution, marking a major shift in its governance structure. Article 240 empowers the President to frame regulations for specific Union Territories, particularly those without legislative assemblies. By including Chandigarh within its scope, the amendment aims to align the city’s administration with other UTs governed directly through Presidential regulations. This transition may also enable the appointment of an independent Administrator for Chandigarh, moving away from the longstanding arrangement where the Governor of Punjab oversees the Union Territory. The proposal carries notable administrative, constitutional, and political implications, especially concerning Centre–State relations and federal balance.

The State Bank of India (SBI) achieved a landmark milestone by surpassing $100 billion in market capitalisation and ₹100 trillion in total business, marking a historic first in India’s banking history. This achievement highlights SBI’s dominant position in retail, SME, and corporate lending, backed by strong Q2 FY26 financial performance and 12.7% year-on-year credit growth. With total deposits around ₹55.9 lakh crore and advances of ₹44.2 lakh crore, SBI’s robust digital transformation, improving asset quality, and investor confidence have propelled it into the elite global banking league. Headquartered in Mumbai, SBI continues to be the backbone of India’s financial ecosystem.

The State Bank of India (SBI) has introduced the ‘SBI-STAR’ Awards—Staff Talent Acknowledgement & Recognition—to honour employee talents beyond professional achievements. The initiative celebrates excellence in areas such as arts, sports, literature, social work, and environmental initiatives, fostering a culture of holistic employee engagement. With over 2.45 lakh employees, SBI aims to highlight the creative, athletic, and humanitarian contributions of its staff, reinforcing its human-centric leadership approach. This annual award program promotes inclusivity, motivation, and well-being within the organization, setting a new benchmark for employee recognition in India’s public sector banking ecosystem.

The State Bank of India (SBI) achieved a major milestone by executing its first gold trade on the India International Bullion Exchange (IIBX) as a Special Category Client (SCC). This move enhances transparency and efficiency in India’s bullion market while making gold trading more accessible and cost-effective for MSME jewellers and bullion dealers. By participating in IIBX, SBI contributes to the development of GIFT City as a global financial and bullion trading hub. The initiative also aligns with the government’s vision of modernising India’s bullion ecosystem through regulated and technology-driven market practices.