Daily Current Affairs

June 9, 2025

Current Affairs

Chenab Bridge - World’s Highest Railway Arch Bridge

Context: Successful completion and inauguration of Chenab Bridge, world’s highest railway arch bridge. 

Relevance of the Topic: Prelims: Key facts related to Chenab Bridge.

About Chenab Bridge

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  • Location: Reasi district of Jammu and Kashmir
  • Total length: 1315 metres (1.3 kms) with a 467-metre-long arch.
  • The world’s highest railway arch bridge stands 359 metres above the Chenab River and is 35 metres taller than the Eiffel Tower.
  • It is a vital link in the ambitious 272 km Udhampur - Srinagar - Baramulla Rail Link railway project, which aims to connect J&K with the rest of the country by rail.
  • Built by: Indian Railways at a cost of ₹1400 crore. The construction was done by a joint venture between Afcons Infrastructure, South Korea’s Ultra Construction & Engineering Company and VSL India, and the arch was designed by Germany-based Leonhardt Andra and Partners.
  • The bridge has a lifespan of 120 years and is designed to handle trains running at 100 km per hour.
  • Chenab Bridge was approved in 2003, it took 22 years to complete the construction, due to the tough and challenging terrain, topographical constraints and political climate. 

Significance of Chenab Bridge: 

Strategic Importance for National Security: 

  • Critical from the national security perspective as it will help in transporting security personnel and material to the border areas during times of conflict. 

Economic Significance: 

Chenab Bridge is expected to give a huge boost to the economy of J&K.

  • By integrating this region through rail with the rest of the country, it will enable movement of goods by rail and more business opportunities.  
  • Easier market access to local businesses, especially to markets in central and southern India. It will particularly benefit the horticulture industry of J&K, especially apple growers who earlier had to rely on road transport to send their produce out of J&K. 
  • Boost to the tourist industry with greater inflow of tourists from other parts of India.
  • Freight traffic through rail is also expected to increase, improving logistics and trade in the region.

Pakistan’s Appointment to Key UNSC Counter-Terror Panels 

Context: In June 2025, Pakistan assumed significant roles in multiple influential committees under the United Nations Security Council (UNSC), creating concerns for India. 

Relevance of the Topic: Mains: Implications of Pakistan’s appointment to key UNSC Counter-Terror Panels for India and strategic options available to India. 

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Recently, Pakistan has been appointed to multiple influential committees under the United Nations Security Council (UNSC), including:

  • Chair of the Taliban Sanctions Committee: Committee established under Resolution 1988 (2011) oversees the implementation of sanctions against Taliban.
  • Vice-Chair of the Counter-Terrorism Committee: CTC monitors implementation of Resolution 1373 (2001), a core component of the UN’s global counter-terrorism architecture.
  • Co-chair of the Working Group on Sanctions and the Informal Working Group on Documentation: The sanctions group is tasked with evaluating and improving the structure and effectiveness of the UN’s sanctions regimes, while the documentation group works to enhance the UNSC’s transparency, efficiency and inclusiveness. 

This development has raised serious concerns in India, given Pakistan’s historical association with terrorist organisations. 

Why is Pakistan's appointment problematic?

  • The Financial Action Task Force (FATF) kept Pakistan under its grey list from 2018 to 2022 for terror financing deficiencies. This adds to global concerns about Pakistan's credibility and transparency in implementing anti-terror mechanisms.
  • Pakistan has long been accused of harboring and supporting terror groups, including the Taliban, Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT), and Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM).

Implications for India: 

  • Diplomatic Setback despite Proactive Outreach: Undermines India’s longstanding efforts to project Pakistan as the epicentre of global terrorism. Shows the limited success of India’s recent diplomatic missions to UNSC capitals and multilateral forums and the growing clout of Pakistan-China diplomatic synergy, especially in multilateral decision-making.
  • Increased Risk of Anti-India Propaganda: With Pakistan’s appointment to these key UNSC counter-terror panels, there is a real risk projecting India as a source of terrorism, especially in Balochistan. The counter-terror committee could ask for reports on terrorist activities in Balochistan.

Strategic options available to India: 

  • Use Friendly Chairs and Vice Chairs to block Anti-India moves: Engage with co-chairs and vice-chairs to counterbalance Pakistan’s influence. E.g.,
    • France and Russia: co-vice-chairs of CTC alongside Pakistan
    • Guyana and Russia: Vice-chairs of the Taliban Sanctions Committee
    • Greece: Co-chair of the Sanctions Working Group etc. 
    • Denmark: Chair of the powerful 1267 ISIL-Al Qaeda Sanctions Committee (Russia and Sierra Leone as co-chairs)
  • Continue to raise India’s concerns in the UNSC and multilateral fora. 

India is hoping that these co-chairs and vice-chairs will act as a counter-balance and counter-weight to keep Pakistan’s anti-India propaganda moves in check. 

Addressing Policy Gaps in India’s EV Journey 

Context: India has recently launched the Scheme to Promote Manufacturing of Electric Passenger Cars in India (SPMEPCI) to boost EV adoption and manufacturing. India began its EV journey in 2015 about five years later than most large economies, and has made significant progress. However, few gaps exist in India’s EV Policy framework. 

Relevance of the topic:

Prelims: Key facts about the schemes- FAME I, FAME II, PM E-DRIVE, SPMEPCI.

Mains: EV Policy in India: Progress & Gaps

EV Policy in India: Progress & Gaps 

FAME Scheme: 

  • India began its EV journey in 2015 with the launch of Faster Adoption and Manufacturing of (Hybrid &) Electric Vehicles in India (FAME) scheme. 
  • It aims to promote the adoption of EVs and their components, reduce vehicular emissions, and foster domestic manufacturing capabilities. 
  • It has been implemented in two phases, FAME-I (2015-2019) and FAME-II (2019-2024).

FAME-I (2015-2019):

  • Focus: Provide demand-side incentives for EVs, such as upfront reduction in purchase price, supporting technology development, pilot projects, and charging infrastructure. 
  • Success: Provided first impetus to EVs in India and supported about 278,000 EVs. 
  • Criticism: Subsidised environmentally- taxing technologies, such as lead-acid batteries and mild-hybrid vehicles. Slow and limited progress of implementation.

FAME-II (2019-2024):

  • Launched in 2019 with an outlay of ₹10,000 crore for 5 years. 
  • Success: Expanded the scope of incentives to electric buses, two-wheelers, and three-wheelers, enhanced minimum safety and technical standards, and introduced localisation norms for EV components. 
  • Criticism: Localisation implementation issues, inadequate incentives for charging infrastructure, and insufficient focus on R&D.

PM E-DRIVE (Electric Drive Revolution in Innovative Vehicle Enhancement)

  • Launched in 2024 to accelerate EV adoption, establish charging infrastructure and foster development of the EV manufacturing ecosystem.  
  • This scheme has a budget of ₹10,900 crore for a two-year period. Of the total allocated budget, ₹2000 crore has been kept for the installation of Electric Vehicle Public Charging Stations. 

SPMEPCI (Scheme to Promote Manufacturing of Electric Passenger Cars in India):

  • Launched in 2025 to boost EV adoption and manufacturing. 
  • Focus: offers concessional import duty of 15% on completely built-up units (CBUs). Available to EV manufacturers investing a minimum of ₹4,150 crore over three years to localise manufacturing in India, with a base domestic value addition (DVA) of 25% in three years, going up to 50% in another two years. 

Key gaps in India’s EV Policy: 

  • Late payment of subsidies to OEMs: In FAME-II, demand incentives were offered to customers as a price reduction upon the purchase of a new EV, based on the size of the battery. These incentives are reimbursed to original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) at a later date, when OEMs submit their reimbursement claims. This leads to late payment of subsidies and resultant shortage of working capital for OEMs. 
  • Continuous reliance on demand incentives might create dependency among consumers. E.g., When subsidies on two-wheeler EVs were reduced, the consumer demand waned by 25% in the month following the subsidy reduction. 
  • Lack of clear guidelines for DVA: FAME-II scheme did not prescribe the domestic value addition (DVA) metric to analyse whether a part is indigenous or imported (except for chargers). In the absence, it was unclear when components would qualify as indigenous, especially when sub-components or sub-parts of a component may be imported. 
  • Limited funds for charging infrastructure: Only 10% of the total incentive outlay under FAME-II was reserved for charging infrastructure. In 2024, India had only one public charger per 135 EVs, far below the global average of one public charger per 6-20 EVs.
  • Limited R&D and technology transfer: India lags behind in technological, scientific, and industrial innovation, and continues to rely on imports for its EV component needs. 

Way Forward

  • DBT to consumers: Government should consider devising a direct benefit transfer mechanism to consumers to alleviate concerns of late payment of subsidies to OEMs. 
  • Incentivise local manufacturing: Emphasise on building robust supply chains and incentivising local manufacturing that can compete with traditional internal combustion engine-based vehicles. This can be done through inclusion of supply incentives including incentives on parts procurement costs.
  • Introduce clear minimum DVA (domestic value addition) thresholds as prerequisite to avail incentives, as well as harmonisation of PLI and FAME schemes with respect to DVA calculation. 
  • Expand incentives to other commercial vehicles like trucks, tractors and industrial vehicles, thereby promoting a significant reduction in particulate matter emissions.
  • Expand charging infrastructure to meet India’s goal of 3.9 million charging stations by 2030. This is needed to accommodate increasing influx of EVs and alleviate concerns about range anxiety. Additionally, residential charging solutions are required. 
  • Dedicated incentives for R&D to refine existing technologies and develop local component manufacturing. 

India needs to learn from the challenges faced in FAME-I and FAME-II, and to adopt a cohesive and comprehensive strategy, along with technology transfer to accelerate EV adoption in India.

New Protections for Ladakh

Context: The Central government has notified regulations to preserve Ladakh’s land, jobs, and culture, aimed at addressing concerns raised by civil society over the past few years.

Relevance of the topic:

Prelims: Key facts related to new regulations; 6th Schedule.

Mains: Significance and limitations of new regulations for Ladakh.

The Indian President notified the Union Territory of Ladakh Reservation (Amendment) Regulation 2025, a series of regulations for Ladakh’s land, jobs, and cultural preservation, aimed at addressing concerns raised by the civil society in Ladakh over the past five years.

These regulations amend the Jammu and Kashmir Reservation Act, 2004 in Ladakh’s context and introduce a domicile-based job reservation system, recognition of local languages, and procedural clarity in civil service recruitment.

New Regulations

Ladakh Civil Services Decentralisation and Recruitment (Amendment) Regulation 2025:

  • This regulation introduces a domicile requirement for recruitment in government posts under the Union Territory of Ladakh, for the first time.
  • The domicile is defined as a person who has resided in Ladakh for 15 years; or a person who has studied for 7 years and appeared in either Class 10 or 12 examination in Ladakh; Children of Central Government employees who have served in Ladakh for at least 10 years; and children and spouses of domiciles.

Ladakh Civil Services Domicile Certificate Rules 2025:

  • These rules lay out the procedure and documentation required to obtain a domicile certificate.
  • The tehsildar is designated as the issuing authority, while the Deputy Commissioner is the appellate authority.
  • Applications can be submitted both physically and electronically.

Union Territory of Ladakh Reservation (Amendment) Regulation 2025:

  • This regulation caps the total reservation for Scheduled Castes (SC), Scheduled Tribes (ST), Other Backward Classes (OBC), and other socially and educationally backward groups at 85%, excluding the 10% reservation for Economically Weaker Sections (EWS).
  • Importantly, these reservations have also been extended to professional institutions, such as engineering and medical colleges in Ladakh.
  • The quota for SC, ST and OBC for admissions into these colleges was earlier capped at 50% and has now been expanded to 85%.
  • Total reservation for government jobs in the UT now stands at 95% , one of the highest in the country. 

Ladakh Official Languages Regulation 2025:

  • This law recognises English, Hindi, Urdu, Bhoti, and Purgi as the official languages of Ladakh.
  • It also mandates institutional support for the promotion of Shina, Brokskat, Balti, and Ladakhi, for preserving Ladakh’s linguistic and cultural diversity.

Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Councils (Amendment) Regulation 2025: This amends the LAHDC Act of 1997 to reserve one-third of the seats for women in the Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Councils of Leh and Kargil, through rotation.

How are the new regulations different from existing provisions?

  • The 2025 regulations mark a significant shift from earlier laws borrowed from Jammu and Kashmir ( the Jammu and Kashmir Reservation Act, 2004 and the Civil Services Decentralisation and Recruitment Act, 2010)
  • Previously, Ladakh lacked domicile criteria, local job protections, defined reservation limits, EWS exclusions, and official recognition of Ladakhi languages. The new rules introduce these elements, moving towards a region-specific governance framework tailored to Ladakh’s unique needs.

Why are these regulations significant?

  • This is the first comprehensive attempt by the Centre to tailor governance and administrative frameworks specifically for Ladakh, following its bifurcation from Jammu & Kashmir in 2019.
  • By defining the domicile criteria and creating a legal filter for recruitment, the government has taken a significant step towards reserving jobs for the local population, a demand that has been at the heart of the protest movement.
  • The language regulation offers long-awaited recognition to Bhoti and Purgi, which are mother tongues for large sections of the population. The promotion of Ladakhi, Balti, and other minority dialects reflects an understanding of the importance of cultural identity in political demands.

Key Demands in Ladakh

The sustained campaign by the Ladakhis, both in Kargil and Leh, forced the government to form a high-powered committee in 2023, headed by Minister of State Nityanand Rai, to look into their demands. 

  • Full statehood for Ladakh 
  • Creation of a Legislative Assembly: To provide Ladakh with representative governance, as it currently remains under direct central rule.
  • Inclusion under the Sixth Schedule: which provides tribal-majority areas in certain northeastern states with legislative and financial autonomy through autonomous district councils
  • A second seat in the Lok Sabha and the constitution of a public service commission. 

These demands have been jointly raised by the Leh Apex Body (LAB) and the Kargil Democratic Alliance (KDA).

Limitations of the New Regulations for Ladakh:

These measures fall short of the demands that civil society organisations in Ladakh have been raising.

  • No Constitutional Guarantee: The new rules are made under Article 240, and are executive orders that lack constitutional guarantee and can be altered or revoked by the Centre anytime, unlike the Sixth Schedule's permanent safeguards.
  • No Land Ownership Safeguards: No restriction on land ownership by outsiders, raising ecological and demographic concerns.
  • No Legislative Autonomy: No local assembly or autonomous council with law-making powers like under the Sixth Schedule. LAHDCs, even with one-third seats now reserved for women, remain administrative bodies without legislative power.
  • Symbolic Cultural Protection: Recognition of local languages without a clear plan for their official or educational use.
  • Short Domicile Period: 15-year domicile condition seen as inadequate by locals, who demand 30 years.
  • Lack of Environmental Safeguards: No legal framework to address concerns over climate-sensitive development.
  • No Representative Politics: The demand for a legislative assembly remains unmet, leaving Ladakh without elected law-making representation.

Ladakh is strategically located at the junction of India, Pakistan and China, where both neighbours have border disputes with India. Recent developments have demonstrated that both these countries often act in tandem. It is imperative that India pays close attention to the sentiments of the region.

Flue Gas Desulphurisation

Context: A high-powered committee of experts, led by Principal Scientific Advisor (PSA) has recommended that India should scrap its policy of mandating coal-fired thermal power plants (TPPs) to install Flue Gas Desulphurisation (FGD) units. FGD units are fitted in TPPs to cut harmful sulphur dioxide (SO2) emissions. 

92% of India’s 600 TPPs have not yet installed FGD units. Instead, the committee recommends limiting FGD unit requirement to plants that use imported or high-sulphur (>0.5%) coal, as these contribute more significantly to SO₂ pollution.

Instead, the study recommends limiting this requirement to plants using imported or high-sulphur (>0.5%) coal, as these contribute more significantly to SO₂ pollution.

Relevance of the Topic:  Prelims: Key facts related to Desulphurisation.  

Rationale behind the Suggestions

  • The rationale underlying the analysis is that 92% of the coal used in Indian plants has low sulphur content (0.3%-0.5%).
    • SO2 levels in ambient air across the country are around 10-20 micrograms/cubic metre, well below India’s air quality norms of 80 micrograms/cubic metre. 
    • SO2 levels in cities near plants with operational FGD units do not differ significantly from those without these units.
    • Particulate Matter samples in urban areas show low levels of elemental sulphur (max 8 micrograms/cubic metre) which is not a significant concern. Thus, FGD units may offer limited benefits in reducing PM pollution. 
  • Norms mandated by the Central Pollution Control Board that require stack heights (exhaust columns) in the thermal power plants be a minimum 220 metres, coupled with Indian climatic conditions, ensure that SO2 emissions do not threaten local air quality.
  • A study by IIT-Delhi in 2024 found that acid rain, the most visible consequence of high SO2 emissions, was not a significant issue in India.
  • Installing FGD in all coal plants would increase power consumption as well as freshwater consumption in the plants, resulting in an additional 69 million tonnes of CO2 (2025-30), while reducing SO2 emissions by 17 million tonnes.
  • Unintended benefit of Sulphate Aerosols: When SO₂ is released into the atmosphere, it reacts with water vapour and other compounds to form sulphate aerosols. These aerosols reflect incoming solar radiation (shortwave radiation) back into space, which results in radiative cooling of the Earth's surface. This cooling effect masks or offsets part of the warming caused by greenhouse gases. 

Flue Gas Desulphurisation

  • Flue Gas Desulphurisation (FGD) is a clean technology system that separates the sulphur dioxide from the exhaust flue gas of coal-fired thermal power plants. 
  • FGD systems utilise various methods, including wet scrubbing with limestone slurry or dry scrubbing with a dry sorbent, to absorb SO2 from the flue gas. 
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How FGD Works?

  • Flue Gas Collection: Flue gas, containing SO2 and other pollutants, is collected from the power plant's boiler or other combustion sources. 
  • SO2 Removal: The collected flue gas is then passed through an FGD system.
    • In wet scrubbing, the gas is sprayed with a limestone slurry. The SO2 reacts with the limestone, forming a calcium sulfite or sulfate, which can be removed as a by-product or waste. 
    • In dry scrubbing, a dry sorbent, like lime or activated carbon, is introduced to the flue gas, where it absorbs the SO2. 
  • Waste Product Handling: The by-products or waste generated during FGD, such as gypsum or a dry waste product, are collected and either disposed of or utilized in other applications. 
  • Cleaned Flue Gas, now with reduced SO2 levels, is discharged into the atmosphere through the stack. 

Aravalli Green Wall Project 

Context: On the World Environment Day 2025, the Prime Minister of India planted the first sapling (Sindoor/Vermillion tree) in Delhi's Ridge to officially launch the Aravalli Green Wall Project to restore the Aravalli mountain range. 

Relevance of the Topic: Prelims: Key facts about the Aravalli Green Wall Project; United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD); National Action Plan to Combat Desertification and Land Degradation. 

Aravalli Green Wall Project

  • Aim: Restore the 700-km Aravalli mountain range’s ecology through reforestation and conservation efforts across Delhi, Haryana, Rajasthan, and Gujarat.
  • To create a 1400 km-long, 5 km-wide green belt inspired by Africa's Great Green Wall. 
  • The project will use innovative plantation techniques, and that all plantation activities will be geo-tagged and monitored via the Meri LiFE portal to ensure transparency and effectiveness.

Key initiatives under the Project: 

  • Plant native species, revive 75 water bodies, and bolster soil conservation targeting 1.1 million hectares by 2027.
  • Expand green cover in a 5-km buffer zone along the Aravalli range
  • Develop around 1,000 nurseries to support continuous plantation drives and engage local communities.
  • Transform the region into a thriving hub for eco-tourism and sustainable travel. 

Significance: 

  • Green barriers would prevent eastward expansion of the Thar Desert, prevent soil erosion, desertification and dust storms. 
  • Enhance biodiversity and ecosystem services by planting native tree species, providing habitat for wildlife and improving water quality and quantity.
  • Help in carbon sequestration and mitigating climate change.
  • Promote sustainable development and livelihood opportunities by involving local communities in afforestation, agro-forestry and water conservation activities.
  • Contribute to India's commitments under various international conventions such as:
    • UNCCD (United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification)
    • CBD (Convention on Biological Diversity)
    • UNFCCC (United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change).
  • Enhance India's image as a global leader in environmental protection and green development.

United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD):

  • Established in 1994, UNCCD is the sole legally binding international agreement linking environment and development to sustainable land management.
  • The convention addresses specifically the arid, semi-arid and dry sub-humid areas, known as the drylands.
  • UNCCD is committed to a bottom-up approach, encouraging the participation of local people in combating desertification and land degradation.
  • The member parties work together to improve the living conditions for people in drylands, to maintain and restore land and soil productivity, and to mitigate the effects of drought.
  • UNCCD collaborates closely with the other two Rio Conventions: UNCBD and UNFCCC to meet these complex challenges with an integrated approach and the best possible use of natural resources.

National Action Plan to Combat Desertification and Land Degradation:

  • The National Action Plan to Combat Desertification 2023 takes due consideration of India’s commitments for:
    • Restoration of 26 million hectares of degraded land by 2030.
    • Generating an additional carbon sink of 2.5-3 billion tonnes of CO2 equivalent by 2030 through additional forest and tree cover.
    • Initiative for enhanced South-South Cooperation to share experiences on Sustainable Land Management (SLM) strategies. 
  • India is a party to the UN Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD).

Aravalli Mountain Range

  • Oldest mountain ranges (fold mountains) in the world having its origin in the Proterozoic era.
  • It runs approximately 700 kms from north-east to south-west direction, in western India. 
  • Range States: Delhi, Haryana, Rajasthan, Gujarat
  • Divided into two sections: Sambhar-Sirohi ranges and Sambhar-Khetri ranges.
  • Highest Peak: Guru Shikhar on Mount Abu.
image 13

Threats: 

  • Decades of deforestation, mining, livestock grazing, and human encroachment have severely degraded the range. 
  • Of the total degraded area, 81% is in Rajasthan alone, followed by Gujarat, Haryana and Delhi.
  • It has led to drying lakes, damaged aquifers, reduced biodiversity, and increasing desertification risks.

Significance of Aravalli Mountain Range:

  • Vital ecological barrier that prevents the eastward expansion of the Thar desert and protects cities such as Delhi, Jaipur and Gurugram from desertification.
  • Gives rise to several rivers including Banas & Sahibi (Tributaries of Yamuna), Luni (flows into Rann of Kutch), Chambal, Sakhi, and Sabarmati.
  • Performs the role of an aquifer with its highly fractured and weathered quality rocks allowing water to percolate and recharge the groundwater.
  • Its forests, grasslands and wetlands support endangered plant and animal species.
  • Rich in natural resources including minerals such as rock phosphate, lead-zinc-silver, talc, pyrophyllite, asbestos, etc. 

India's Energy Sector: Rise and Reforms 

Context: Recently, India overtook Japan to become the world’s fourth largest economy with a GDP of over $4.18 trillion. A key pillar behind this growth story is the transformation of India’s energy sector over the past decade.

Relevance of the Topic: Prelims and Mains: State of India's Energy sectors and key reforms.

Key Stats in the Energy Sector in India

  • India is the third largest energy and oil consumer. India is the fourth-largest refiner, and fourth-largest LNG importer globally. 
  • Coal has consistently accounted for over 70% of India's total energy generation. Despite increased domestic production, coal import dependence remains high (26%).
  • Crude oil’s share is ~6% in FY24. Natural gas was 7% of the total energy produced in FY24.
  • Renewable energy sources (hydro, solar, nuclear) stand at 7% in FY24. The highest potential for energy generation from renewable resources comes from wind (55%), followed by solar energy, and large hydro. India’s total renewable energy-based electricity generation capacity: 203 GW (2024). India’s target: 500 GW from non-fossil sources by 2030. 

With energy demand expected to grow two and a half times by 2047 and 25% of incremental global demand is set to come from India, energy security is now viewed as development security.

Indian government’s energy strategy

Indian government’s energy strategy addresses the energy trilemma of- availability, affordability, and sustainability through a four-pronged approach: 

  • Diversification of energy security sources and suppliers
  • Expansion of domestic production of oil and gas 
  • Transition to renewables like Biofuels, green hydrogen etc 
  • Affordability (affordable energy access for all sections of society)

Reforms in the Energy Sector: 

1. Upstream Oil & Gas Reforms: 

  • In the upstream oil and gas sector, India’s exploration acreage has doubled from 8% in 2021 to 16% in 2025.
  • With a goal of covering one million square kilometres by 2030, the government aims to unlock 42 billion tonnes of oil and oil-equivalent gas. 

2. Policy Reforms: 

  • This expansion has been enabled by landmark reforms such as the reduction of ‘No-Go’ areas by 99%, streamlined licensing through Open Acreage Licensing Policy (OALP) rounds, and attractive pricing incentives for new gas wells.
  • The revised gas pricing mechanism, linking prices to 10% of the Indian crude basket and offering a 20% premium for new wells, has enhanced gas availability for city gas networks and industrial usage.
  • To reduce costs and accelerate monetisation, new revenue-sharing contracts allow shared infrastructure among Exploration and Production (E&P) players. 

3. Technological and geophysical efforts have complemented policy reforms: 

  • National Seismic Programme, Mission Anveshan, airborne gravity gradiometry (AGG) surveys, and continental shelf mapping have expanded data and exploration confidence, especially in frontier basins such as the Andamans, the Mahanadi, and the Cauvery.
  • ONGC and Oil India have together made over 25 hydrocarbon discoveries across the Mumbai Offshore, Cambay, Mahanadi, and Assam basins in the last four years. Noteworthy among these are- Suryamani and Vajramani wells on the west coast offshore and the Utkal and Konark fields on the east coast deep waters. 
  • These discoveries add over 75 MMtoe (million metric tonnes of oil equivalent) and 2,700 MMSCM (million metric standard cubic metres) of gas to India’s reserves.

4. Downstream infrastructure has seen parallel expansion: 

  • India now operates 24,000 kilometres of product pipelines, nearly 96,000 retail outlets, and has significantly strengthened its strategic reserves and LPG storage. 
  • Over 67 million people visit petrol pumps daily, which is testimony to the scale and efficiency of India’s fuel supply ecosystem.
  • India’s city gas network has grown from 55 geographic areas in 2014 to 307 in 2025, with piped natural gas (PNG) connections up from 25 lakh to 1.5 crore and over 7,500 compressed natural gas (CNG) stations in operation. 
  • Unified pipeline tariffs and city gas expansions have ensured affordable access even in distant States.

Transition to Renewables

1. Biofuels and Ethanol: 

  • Biofuels have emerged as a cornerstone of India’s green strategy.
  • Ethanol blending in petrol has surged from 1.5% in 2013 to 19.7% in 2025. Blending quantities have expanded from 38 crore litres to 484 crore litres. 

This has saved 1.26 lakh crore in foreign exchange, reduced emissions by 643 lakh MT, and paid ₹1.79 lakh crore to distillers and over ₹1 lakh crore to farmers. Feedstock diversification ranging from molasses to maize has created a robust ethanol ecosystem.

2. Compressed Biogas:

  • Sustainable Alternative Towards Affordable Transportation (SATAT) initiative commissioned over 100 compressed biogas (CBG) plants and aims for a 5% CBG blending mandate by 2028.
  • Central support for biomass procurement and CBG-pipeline connectivity is accelerating circular energy adoption. 

3. Green Hydrogen: 

  • Green hydrogen has been given a massive thrust with 8.62 lakh tonnes of production and 3,000 MW of electrolyser tenders awarded. 
  • Oil public sector undertakings are leading from the front- Indian Oil Corporation Ltd. recently awarded a landmark 10 kilo-tonnes per annum (KTPA) green hydrogen tender to L&T. Numaligarh Refinery Limited (NRL)’s green hydrogen unit in Assam is poised to become a first in the northeast.

4. Natural Gas: 

  • India’s natural gas pipeline network now spans over 25,000 km; it targets 33,000 km by 2030.
  • Strategic pricing reforms and inclusion of gas in the ‘No Cut’ category for transport and domestic segments are ensuring supply stability.
  • Gas production has increased steadily from 28.7 billion cubic metre (BCM) in 2020-21 to 36.4 BCM in 2023-24, with further growth projected.
  • Oilfields (Regulation and Development) Amendment Act 2024 has enabled hybrid leases, allowing renewables alongside hydrocarbons.
  • Discovered small fields (DSF) fields now operate under simplified contracts with minimal compliance burdens, unlocking marginal fields across basins. These sweeping policy reforms show that we are ready to tweak and do more to make India’s upstream sector as competitive as any in the world. 
  • Through the PM Gati Shakti, the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas has digitally mapped over one lakh assets and pipelines. Integration with the National Master Plan ensures real-time project visibility and synergy across ministries. Key projects such as the Indo-Nepal pipeline and Samruddhi Utility Corridor have benefited from route optimisation and cost savings of over ₹169 crore. 

Affordability Reforms: 

  • Despite global LPG prices rising by 58%, Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana (PMUY) beneficiaries pay ₹553 per cylinder, supported by targeted subsidies and compensation to oil companies.
  • Fuel prices in India have been kept stable through excise cuts, insulating citizens from volatility seen in neighbouring countries.

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