Daily Current Affairs – 26-03-2025

Tamil Nadu

IEA report on India Gas Market

® According to the “ India Gas Market Report: Outlook to 2030 ” released by International Energy Agency (IEA), India’s natural gas consumption is expected to grow by nearly 60% to 103 billion cubic meters (bcm) per year , by 2030. ® India aims to increase the share of gas in the energy mix to 15% by 2030 . ® Heavy industry and manufacturing sectors will add around 15 bcm of demand during this period, while gas use in oil refining is expected to increase by more than 4 bcm. ® Compressed Biogas (CBG) production is expected to reach 0.8 bcm annually by 2030. ® India’s CBG potential will be around 87 bcm annually . ® India’s domestic gas production is expected to reach less than 38 bcm by 2030, or around 8% above 2023 levels. ® India’s liquefied natural gas (LNG) imports increased by 70% between 2013 and 2023, and reached 36 bcm in 2024. ® This consolidates India’s position as the world’s 4th largest LNG importer . ® Japan has the largest LNG import capacity in the world , with a combined capacity of nearly 242 million metric tons (MMT) per year. ® USA became the largest LNG exporter in the world with 11.9 billion cubic feet per day (Bcf/d). ® China is the world’s largest importer of LNG with 76.65 million tons (MT).

India to Become World’s 4th Largest Economy by 2025: IMF

® As per the IMF’s World Economic Outlook (April 2025), India is projected to become the 4th largest economy globally by end of FY 2025–26. ® India will rank behind only the US, China, and Germany, overtaking economies like Japan and the UK. ® India had earlier surpassed the United Kingdom to become the 5th largest economy. ® India’s nominal GDP is projected to double (105% growth) between 2014 and 2025. ® In 2025, India is expected to reach the milestone of a $4 trillion economy.

RBI Constitutes Payments Regulatory Board (PRB)

® The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has formally notified the establishment of a new Payments Regulatory Board (PRB) to oversee and regulate payment systems in India. ® The PRB replaces the earlier Board for Regulation and Supervision of Payment and Settlement Systems (BPSS). ® The six-member PRB will be headed by the RBI Governor. ® For the first time, the board includes three nominees from the Central Government, reflecting greater government participation. Composition of PRB: ® RBI Governor (Chairperson) ® Deputy Governor ® Nominated RBI official (ex officio) ® Deputy Governor in charge of Payment and Settlement Systems ® One RBI official nominated by the Central Board ® Three government nominees

Khelo India Beach Games 2025: First Edition Hosted in Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu

® The first-ever Khelo India Beach Games were held in Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu. ® Mallakhamb and tug-of-war featured as non-medal demonstration sports. ® This marked the inaugural Beach Games under the Khelo India programme. ® Manipur topped the medal tally, followed by Maharashtra (2nd) and Nagaland (3rd).

RBI Proposes New Norms to Regulate Gold Loans in 2025

® The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) issued draft guidelines to standardize gold loan issuance by banks and NBFCs. Key provisions include: ® Loan-to-Value (LTV) ratio capped at 75%, down from the current 80%. ® Borrowers must provide ownership proof or a declaration if purchase receipts are unavailable. ® Lenders must issue a certificate detailing gold purity, weight, deductions, image, and valuation. Loans will be sanctioned only against: ® Gold jewellery, ornaments, and bank-sold gold coins with 22-carat or higher purity. ® Silver jewellery, ornaments, and bank-sold silver coins with minimum 925 purity. ® The draft limits loans to 1 kg of gold ornaments and 50 grams of gold coins per borrower. ® These measures aim to enhance transparency and reduce risks in the gold loan market.