Current affairs, 20 September 2026: GOBARdhan CBG operational guidelines and RBI OMO sales to absorb surplus liquidity

20 September 2026 brings GOBARdhan operational rules for Compressed Bio-Gas (CBG) and RBI liquidity absorption via OMO sales — scheme numbers and central-bank tools for objective papers.

GOBARdhan scheme operationalised (guidelines dated 15 September 2026)

The Ministry of Petroleum & Natural Gas issued operational guidelines for the Rs 23,731-crore GOBARdhan scheme for CBG, covering 2026-27 to 2035-36, with six components: CBG offtake assurance, pricing framework, capital assistance, pipeline infrastructure, credit guarantee, and a CBG Ecosystem Challenge Fund. Assured offtake up to 100% of CBG for sale; Administered CBG Price (ACP) fixed at Rs 2,110 per MMBTU (~Rs 98/kg at 95% methane), in place for at least 10 years to 31 March 2036; City Gas Distribution (CGD) blending obligation 3% (2026-27), 4% (2027-28), rising to 5% from 2028-29; capital assistance up to Rs 30 crore per project; affordability support capped at Rs 10/kg. GOBARdhan subsumes SATAT and four other schemes from 1 September 2026. Mint · PSU Watch

RBI liquidity management: OMO sales (~Rs 1 lakh crore)

The RBI is conducting Open Market Operation (OMO) sales of government securities totalling about Rs 1 lakh crore in three tranches to absorb surplus banking-system liquidity (system surplus ~Rs 4.45 lakh crore around this period); the final tranche of Rs 25,000 crore is set for 28 September 2026. Policy repo rate held at 5.25%. The Tribune

Why it matters for an exam: GOBARdhan = Rs 23,731 cr, ACP Rs 2,110/MMBTU, CGD blend 3→5%, subsumes SATAT from 1 Sep 2026; RBI OMO = ~Rs 1 lakh cr, 3 tranches, final Rs 25,000 cr on 28 Sep, repo 5.25%.

What to write in your notebook

Three lines:

1. GOBARdhan CBG: Rs 23,731 cr (2026-27 to 2035-36); ACP Rs 2,110/MMBTU till 31 Mar 2036; 100% assured offtake; CGD 3%/4%/5% blend path.
2. GOBARdhan merge: SATAT + 4 schemes from 1 Sep 2026; capital assistance up to Rs 30 cr/project; affordability cap Rs 10/kg.
3. RBI OMO sales: ~Rs 1 lakh cr, 3 tranches; Rs 25,000 cr final tranche 28 Sep 2026; surplus ~Rs 4.45 lakh cr; repo 5.25%.