Everything a banker needs today, in about five minutes: RBI, the government, banks, regulators, markets and the exam angle, each with its official source.
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International
Bank of England raises rate to 4%, voting 8–1
On 5 Nov the Bank of England raised Bank Rate by 25 basis points to 4%, its first rise since August 2023; eight members backed the move and Catherine Mann voted for 50 basis points. UK inflation was 3.5% in September and the next decision is on 17 December.
At the branch: A customer sending money to the UK or holding sterling FCNR deposits may ask about this. Quote your bank’s own card and deposit rates, not the UK rate.
Exam angle: JAIIB AFM and CAIIB BFM: central banks, interest rates, forex.
Source: Bank of England decision of 5 Nov 2026, reported by MoneyWeek and Professional Pensions
Exam relevance: Medium
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Payments and digital
NPCI tells SC merchants cannot pass on UPI MDR
In an affidavit filed on 3 Nov in Anjan Datta v. Union of India, NPCI told the Supreme Court that merchants are barred from passing the merchant discount rate on to customers, LiveLaw reported on 5 Nov. MDR of up to 0.4% is to apply only to person-to-merchant UPI payments above ₹2,000, about 4% of them, while person-to-person transfers and small merchants with monthly UPI credits up to ₹1 lakh stay free; NPCI said on 13 Oct that the 15 Oct start was deferred to after Diwali, with the date to be announced.
At the branch: If a shop adds an extra charge to a UPI payment, tell the customer that merchants may not pass on this fee. Do not quote a start date until NPCI announces one.
Exam angle: JAIIB PPB: payment systems; Payment and Settlement Systems Act, 2007.
Source: NPCI affidavit in the Supreme Court, reported by LiveLaw and PTI on 5 Nov 2026
Exam relevance: High
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Other regulators
SEBI lets managers certify accredited investors
A SEBI circular of 5 Nov, in force at once, lets AIF managers, SIF asset managers and portfolio managers decide and record a client’s accredited investor status, alongside accreditation agencies. Accreditation lasts three years and carries across managers in a corporate group, and a new route counts securities-market exposure of at least ₹5 crore for individuals, HUFs, family trusts and sole proprietorships, or ₹20 crore for bodies corporate and other trusts.
At the branch: This matters to wealth customers looking at AIFs or portfolio managers. It does not ease KYC or AML checks.
Exam angle: JAIIB and promotion exams: capital markets, alternative investment funds.
Source: SEBI circular of 5 Nov 2026, reported by PTI in Business Standard and by TaxGuru
Exam relevance: Medium
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Other regulators
NRIs, OCIs can do SEBI KYC from abroad from 3 Dec
A SEBI circular of 4 Nov lets individual NRIs, OCIs and foreign nationals in FATF-compliant countries complete KYC digitally from abroad, for onboarding and re-KYC, from 3 Dec. An overseas address and an international mobile number can be used; non-individual clients and those in non-compliant countries stay on the existing process.
At the branch: This covers KYC with SEBI intermediaries such as brokers and depository participants. It does not change a bank account’s KYC under RBI rules.
Exam angle: JAIIB PPB and promotion exams: KYC, NRI customers; CAIIB BRBL: securities regulation.
Source: SEBI circular of 4 Nov 2026, reported by CorpLawUpdates
Exam relevance: Medium
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Economy and markets
Sensex jumps 2,009 points as crude slides
The Sensex closed at 79,310.01 on 5 Nov, up 2,008.61 points (2.60%), and the Nifty 50 at 24,536.60, up 576 (2.40%), a sixth straight gain, with crude lower on hopes of an end to the US-Iran conflict. Nifty Bank rose 3.33% to 57,773.65.
At the branch: If a customer asks whether to move deposits into shares after this rally, give no view; explain the bank’s products and leave market calls to them.
Exam angle: JAIIB AFM: markets; promotion exams: market indicators.
Source: Market close of 5 Nov 2026, reported by Business Standard and HDFC Sky; Nifty Bank close by Liquide
Exam relevance: Low
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Economy and markets
10-year G-sec yield falls to 7.17%; rupee firms
The 10-year government bond yield ended 2 basis points lower at 7.17% on 5 Nov, its lowest since 29 September and down 24 basis points this month. PTI put the rupee’s close at 94.41 a dollar, up 5 paise, while Business Standard reported 94.47, its best level since 21 Oct.
At the branch: For a forex customer, quote the bank’s card rate for the day. Falling yields lift the value of bonds a bank already holds.
Exam angle: CAIIB BFM: bond prices and yields; JAIIB AFM: foreign exchange.
Source: Market close of 5 Nov 2026, reported by Business Standard and PTI (ThePrint)
Exam relevance: Medium
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Appointments and reports
Equitas SFB names Balaji Nuthalapadi interim CEO
Equitas Small Finance Bank’s board has named whole-time director Balaji Nuthalapadi interim CEO, subject to RBI approval, after MD & CEO P. N. Vasudevan resigned, according to a filing reported on 3 Nov. The board has begun searching for a successor.
At the branch: Nothing changes for the bank’s customers.
Exam angle: Promotion exams: Banking Regulation Act, Section 35B, RBI approval for bank chiefs.
Source: Equitas Small Finance Bank BSE filing, reported by InvestyWise on 3 Nov 2026
Exam relevance: Low
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Bankers' corner
IIBF posts JAIIB venue and centre change notices
IIBF’s exam notice page, last modified on 5 Nov, lists notices on a venue change in JAIIB/DBF November 2026 admit letters and on a centre change for the JAIIB November 2026 examination. PPB is on 22 Nov, AFM on 28 Nov and RBWM on 29 Nov, as notified by IIBF.
At the branch: If you or a colleague sits for JAIIB this month, read IIBF’s notices and check the venue on your admit letter again before the day. Your admit letter decides.
Exam angle: JAIIB November 2026 candidates.
Source: IIBF exam notices, page modified 5 Nov 2026
Exam relevance: High
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RBI
RBI opens November household sentiment surveys
On 3 Nov RBI launched the November 2026 rounds of its Urban and Rural Consumer Confidence Surveys and its Inflation Expectations Survey of Households. It also announced overnight variable rate reverse repo auctions for 3 and 4 Nov.
At the branch: Nothing changes at the counter. These surveys collect data; they are not new rules.
Exam angle: CAIIB ABM and promotion exams: RBI surveys, LAF, VRRR.
Source: RBI press releases of 3 Nov 2026
Exam relevance: Low
Index closes as reported by Business Standard and HDFC Sky; rupee by PTI (ThePrint) and Business Standard; 10-year yield by Business Standard; Brent by PTI; repo rate and reserves from RBI.