CURRENT AFFAIRS

The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) has projected India’s economy to grow at around 6.1% in 2026–27, highlighting resilience despite global economic uncertainties.

The 14th Ministerial Conference of the World Trade Organization has commenced amid intense debates over global trade reforms, dispute settlement revival, and India’s evolving trade strategy.

The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has stated that India’s forex reserves remain adequate despite heavy foreign investor outflows and a weakening rupee.

The National Housing Bank has launched the Gruha Sugam Portal, a digital platform aimed at simplifying access to housing loans for defence personnel, paramilitary forces, and government employees.

India’s Strategic Petroleum Reserves (SPRs) are currently operating at only 64% capacity, holding about 3.37 million tonnes out of a total 5.33 million tonnes, raising concerns over the country’s preparedness against global supply shocks amid ongoing geopolitical tensions.

Amid escalating geopolitical tensions in West Asia, India’s external sector has come under pressure.

Recent data on life insurance claims in India has highlighted a paradox—while claim settlement ratios remain high, the actual financial support provided to households is relatively limited. This has triggered a debate on shifting focus from insurance penetration to adequacy of coverage.

The Government of India has expanded domestic sourcing norms in the solar sector to include wafers and ingots, effective from June 2028, as part of efforts to reduce dependence on imports, particularly from China, and strengthen domestic manufacturing.

India has initiated an anti-dumping investigation into imports of Ethyl Chloroformate from China, following allegations by domestic producers that the chemical is being sold at unfairly low prices in the Indian market.

The Government of India has expanded domestic sourcing norms in the solar sector to include wafers and ingots, effective from June 2028, as part of efforts to reduce dependence on imports, particularly from China, and strengthen domestic manufacturing.