Current Affairs - Economy

The Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) approved two new Electronics Manufacturing Clusters (EMCs) in Tamil Nadu with a total investment of ₹1,012 crore. The Manallur Cluster will be developed over 474.3 acres with a project cost of ₹587.47 crore, while the Pillapaikkam Cluster will cover 379.3 acres with an investment of ₹424.55 crore. The initiative supports the Semicon India Programme and strengthens India's electronics manufacturing ecosystem. It is expected to boost semiconductor and electronics production, attract investments, generate employment, and enhance India's position as a global manufacturing hub. The approval also complements talent development and AI initiatives being implemented across the country.

Madhya Pradesh signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Paras Semiconductors on July 22, 2026, to establish a ₹6,200 crore greenfield Outsourced Semiconductor Assembly and Test (OSAT) facility in the Indore-Ujjain region. The project will focus on advanced integrated circuit (IC) packaging technologies, including 2.5D and 3D packaging, chiplet integration, wafer bumping, and heterogeneous integration. The agreement was signed with the Madhya Pradesh State Electronics Development Corporation (MPSeDC), reinforcing the state's ambition to become a major semiconductor and electronics manufacturing hub. The initiative is also expected to attract further investments, generate employment, and strengthen India's semiconductor ecosystem.

Andhra Pradesh signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the UAE on July 21, 2026, through the Andhra Pradesh Economic Development Board (EDB) to establish a UAE-backed food processing partnership. The initiative aims to develop integrated value chains for horticultural products such as mangoes, bananas, and cocoa, with a special focus on transforming the Rayalaseema region into a major horticulture hub. The UAE-based firm Floor Masters International has proposed an initial investment of ₹100 crore, while the first processing unit will be established at Gangadhara Nellore in Chittoor district. The partnership is also expected to boost exports of seafood, dairy, poultry, and pulses to Gulf countries.

According to SBI Research, Indian scheduled commercial banks recorded a credit growth of 18.6% for the fortnight ended June 30, 2026, while deposit growth stood at 13.3%. This widened the gap between credit and deposit growth to 5.3%. The report highlighted that lending activity was driven by increased credit flow to agriculture, industry, and services, with working capital loans growing faster than term loans. It also noted that Indian banks are in a strong financial position due to healthy capital buffers and low non-performing assets, while the Emergency Credit Line Guarantee Scheme (ECLGS) continues to support credit expansion across productive sectors.

Sukma district in Chhattisgarh achieved an impressive 98.6% institutional delivery rate under the Mukhyamantri Swasth Bastar Abhiyan, marking a significant improvement from the previous 96–97% level. The campaign, launched on 14 April 2026, focused on strengthening maternal and child healthcare in remote and Left Wing Extremism-affected areas of the Bastar region. Along with increasing institutional deliveries, the initiative helped reduce maternal deaths to single digits, expanded door-to-door screening for diseases such as anaemia and sickle cell disease, ensured timely ambulance services, and improved access to essential medical care for pregnant women and vulnerable communities.