Banking and RBI
RBI publishes minutes of the 62nd Monetary Policy Committee meeting of 3 to 5 August 2026
19 August 2026 | Reserve Bank of India
The RBI published the minutes of the 62nd meeting of the Monetary Policy Committee (MPC), held on 3 to 5 August 2026 under Governor Sanjay Malhotra. Section 45ZL of the RBI Act, 1934 requires publication on the fourteenth day after every meeting.
The minutes record that the MPC voted unanimously on the resolution to keep the policy repo rate unchanged. Members present were Dr Nagesh Kumar, Saugata Bhattacharya, Prof Ram Singh, Dr Poonam Gupta and Indranil Bhattacharyya, besides the Governor.
Key facts- Meeting: 62nd MPC, 3 to 5 August 2026
- Minutes published: 19 August 2026
- Legal basis: Section 45ZL, RBI Act, 1934
- Vote on resolution: unanimous
Exam takeaway: The MPC is constituted under Section 45ZB of the RBI Act, 1934.
Quick revision: MPC minutes published 14 days after the meeting (RBI, 19 August 2026).
Reserve Bank of India original sourceGovernment Schemes
Cabinet approves four railway multitracking projects worth Rs 9,450 crore
19 August 2026 | Press Information Bureau
The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs approved four Railways projects with a total cost of about Rs 9,450 crore, to be completed by 2030-31: Kharagpur-Bhadrak (Ranital) 4th line (173 km), Bhadrak-Haridaspur 4th line (75 km), Gummidipundi-Gudur 3rd and 4th line (90 km) and Cuttack-Paradeep (Badabandha) 3rd and 4th line (72 km).
The projects cover eight districts in West Bengal, Odisha, Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh, add about 410 km to the network, and are expected to carry additional freight of 76 MTPA. They are planned on the PM-Gati Shakti National Master Plan.
Key facts- Total cost: about Rs 9,450 crore
- Completion: up to 2030-31
- Network added: about 410 km
- Additional freight: 76 MTPA
Exam takeaway: Gati Shakti planning is a recurring theme in infrastructure approvals.
Quick revision: Four railway multitracking projects, Rs 9,450 crore (PIB, 19 August 2026).
Press Information Bureau original sourceGovernment Schemes
Cabinet approves 4-laning of Muzaffarpur-Sitamarhi-Sonbarsa section of NH-22 on HAM at Rs 3,590.73 crore
19 August 2026 | Press Information Bureau
The CCEA approved upgradation of the 82.578 km Muzaffarpur-Sitamarhi-Sonbarsa section of NH-22 in Bihar to four lanes on Hybrid Annuity Mode (HAM) at a total capital cost of Rs 3,590.73 crore.
PIB said the corridor is a key feeder connecting the India-Nepal border at Sonbarsa with Muzaffarpur on NH-27 (East-West Corridor).
Key facts- Length: 82.578 km
- Mode: Hybrid Annuity Mode (HAM)
- Cost: Rs 3,590.73 crore
- Connects: Sonbarsa (India-Nepal border) with Muzaffarpur
Exam takeaway: Compare with the BOT toll mode used for the Guwahati-Tezpur corridor.
Quick revision: NH-22 Bihar upgrade on HAM (PIB, 19 August 2026).
Press Information Bureau original source