Vinod Bhat

New Delhi: The Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) organized a one-day Hydrogen Startup Exhibition. The aim of the exhibition was to promote the vibrant hydrogen startup ecosystem in the country.

The exhibition brought together 18 promising startups working across various segments of the green hydrogen value chain, including electrolyser technologies, fuel cell applications, biomass-to-hydrogen production, and digital solutions for hydrogen systems. The participating startups demonstrated their technologies and products and interacted with key stakeholders from government, industry, and the research community.

It may be noted that as per Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT), there were 249 startups in the hydrogen area as of September 2025.

The participating companies included five electrolyzer startups (electrolyzers and associated stack components), two hydrogen production startups, one fuel cell startup, one hydrogen applications startup, one safety startup (MEMS-based sensor), two drone startups, three hydrogen cooking startups, one artificial intelligence/machine learning startup, and two bio-hydrogen startups.

Principal Scientific Adviser to the Government of India, Prof. Ajay Sood, graced the occasion and interacted with the startup founders. Other dignitaries included MNRE Secretary Shri Santosh Sarangi, Scientific Secretary in the PSA Office Dr. Parminder Maini, and NGHM Director Shri Abhay Bakre.

MNRE had launched the scheme for New and Novel Uses of Hydrogen Production and Applications last year, under which Part B of the scheme earmarked Rs. 100 crores for startup funding (pilot projects), with a maximum grant of Rs. 5 crore per startup.

Following the scheme launch, NISE had issued a call for proposals (CfP) in September 2025. A total of 111 applications were received, out of which 58 were shortlisted for presentation before the Project Appraisal Committee earlier this year. The results of the presentations will be declared in the coming weeks.

It may be recalled that MNRE had organized a similar startup expo as part of the R&D Conference last September at Dr. Ambedkar Centre in New Delhi, in which more than 25 startups had participated. This second event was a successor to the first event.

Vinod Bhat

New Delhi: As part of its ongoing outreach to keep the media informed on the evolving situation in West Asia, the Government of India convened a briefing at the National Media Centre today. Officials from the Ministries of Petroleum and Natural Gas, Ports, Shipping and Waterways and External Affairs provided updates on fuel availability, maritime operations, assistance to Indian nationals in the region, and measures being undertaken to maintain stability across key sectors. The Ministry of Micro, Small and Medium enterprises also shared updates pertaining to the MSME sector.

MSME Sector Updates

The Ministry of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises outlined the mitigation efforts in response to the ongoing West Asia crisis and highlighted the continued resilience and growth of the MSME sector.

• Over 20 lakh MSMEs were newly registered on the Udyam portal during February–March 2026, taking the total number of registered enterprises to over 8 crore, reflecting sustained entrepreneurial activity across the country.
• Outstanding lending to MSMEs has exceeded ₹36.7 lakh crore, registering a quarterly growth of 23.5%, indicating improved credit flow despite global uncertainties.
• In a major step to enhance access to finance, the collateral-free lending limit for micro and small enterprises has been doubled from ₹10 lakh to ₹20 lakh, effective April 1, 2026, benefiting small entrepreneurs and first-time borrowers.
• More than 5.27 lakh guarantees worth ₹92,000 crore were approved during February–March, demonstrating strong institutional support for the sector.
• On liquidity measures, the Trade Receivables Discounting System (TReDS) platform has recorded significant growth, with invoice discounting increasing from ₹4,300 crore in 2022 to over ₹7 lakh crore currently, including ₹85,000 crore in February–March alone, underscoring the growing adoption of digital financing solutions.
• The government remains committed to ensuring adequate support to MSMEs through coordinated policy measures, particularly in the context of evolving global challenges, including the West Asia situation.
• The Ministry of MSME will continue to work closely with stakeholders to strengthen the resilience, competitiveness, and growth of the sector.

Energy Supply and Fuel Availability

The Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas shared an update on the current fuel supply situation, outlining measures being undertaken to ensure uninterrupted availability of petroleum products and LPG amid the ongoing developments affecting the Strait of Hormuz. It was noted that:

Public Advisory and Citizen Awareness

• Citizens are advised to avoid panic purchase of petrol, diesel and LPG as the Govt is making all efforts to ensure availability of petrol, diesel and LPG.
• Beware of rumours and rely on official sources for correct information.
• LPG consumers are requested to use digital booking platforms and avoid visiting distributors.
• Citizens are encouraged to use alternate fuels such as PNG and electric or induction cooktops.
• All citizens are urged to conserve energy in their daily use during the current situation.

Government Preparedness and Supply Management Measures

• Despite the ongoing geopolitical situation, the Government has ensured that 100% supply is being made to Domestic LPG, Domestic PNG and CNG (Transport).
• For commercial LPG, priority has been given to hospitals, educational institutions. Besides this, priority has also been given to pharma, steel, automobile, seed, agriculture, etc. In addition to this, supply of 5 Kg FTL to migrant labour is also doubled based on avg. daily supply on 2nd and 3rd March 2026.
• The Government has already implemented several rationalisation measures on both the supply and demand side, including enhancing refinery production, increasing the booking interval from 21 to 25 days in urban areas and up to 45 days in rural areas and prioritising sectors for supply.
• Alternate fuels such as kerosene and coal have been made available to ease pressure on LPG demand.
• The Ministry of Coal has directed Coal India and Singareni Collieries to supply additional coal to States for distribution to small and medium consumers.
• States have been advised to facilitate new PNG connections for domestic and commercial consumers.

Coordinated Efforts with States/UTs and Institutional Mechanisms

• State Governments are empowered under the Essential Commodities Act, 1955 and LPG Control Order, 2000 to monitor supply and act against hoarding and black marketing.
• Govt. of States/UTs have to play a primary role in monitoring and regulating supply situation of essential commodities including Petrol, Diesel and LPG. Govt. of India has reiterated the same via multiple letters and VCs to all States/UTs.
• The Government of India vide letters dated 27.03.2026 and 02.04.2026 have stressed the need for proactive public communication to reassure citizens regarding adequate fuel availability. Regular review meetings are being held with States/UTs. In this context, meetings were convened on 02.04.2026 (Chaired by Secretary, MoPNG) and on 06.04.2026 (Chaired bySecretary, MoPNG along with Secretaries of I&B and Consumer Affairs), wherein the following was emphasized:
  • To issue daily press briefings and issue regular public advisories.
  • To actively monitor and counter fake news / misinformation on social media.
  • To intensify daily enforcement drives by District admin and to continue raids and inspections in coordination with OMCs
  • To issue Commercial LPG allocation orders within their States/UTs
  • To issue SKO allocation orders for additional SKO allotted to the States/UTs.
  • To promote PNG adoptions and alternate fuels.
  • To prioritize LPG supply, especially for domestic needs, and adopt targeted distribution of 5 kg FTL cylinders to ensure supply stability.
• All States/UTs have established control rooms and district monitoring committees to curb hoarding and black marketing.
• Many states/UTs are issuing/carrying out press briefs.

Enforcement and Monitoring Actions

• Enforcement actions continue across the country to curb hoarding and black marketing of LPG. On 14.04.2026, more than 2100 raids were conducted, and about 450 cylinders were seized across the country.
• PSU Oil Marketing Companies have strengthened surprise inspections and imposed penalties on 237 LPG distributorships and suspended 58 LPG distributorships till yesterday.

LPG Supply

Domestic LPG Supply Status:

• LPG supply continues to be affected by the prevailing geopolitical situation.
• No dry-outs have been reported at LPG distributorships.
• Online LPG bookings have increased to about 98% across the industry.
• Delivery Authentication Code (DAC) based deliveries have increased to around 93% to prevent diversion. DAC is received on the registered mobile number of the consumer.
• Domestic LPG cylinder deliveries remain normal against bookings.

Commercial LPG Supply and Allocation Measures:

• Total commercial LPG allocation has been increased to about 70% of pre-crisis levels, including 10% reform-linked allocation.
• The Government of India vide letter dated 06.04.2026 has conveyed that daily quantity of 5 Kg FTL cylinders in each State available for disbursal to migrant labourers is being doubled based on the average daily supply (Number of cylinders) to migrant labourers during 2nd-3rd March 2026 beyond the limit of 20% mentioned in letter dated 21.03.2026. These 5 Kg FTL cylinders will be at disposal of the State Government for supplying only to migrant labourers in their State with assistance of Oil Marketing Companies (OMCs).
• Since 3rd April 2026, PSU OMCs have organized more than 5000 awareness camps for 5 Kg FTL Cylinders, wherein more than 57,800 – 5Kg FTL cylinders were also sold. Yesterday, 8575 – 5 Kg FTLs were sold through 583 camps.
• Since 23 March 2026, more than 14.6 lakh 5-kg Free Trade LPG cylinders have been sold.
• A three-member committee of Executive Directors from IOCL, HPCL and BPCL is coordinating with State authorities and industry bodies to plan commercial LPG distribution.
• A total of 1,34,226 MT (Equivalent to more than 70.64 Lakh of 19 Kg LPG Cylinders) of Commercial LPG has been sold since 14^th March 2026. This includes more than 8000 MT of Auto LPG.
• Avg. Auto LPG sale by PSU OMCs in the month of April-26 (till 14.04.26) is around 282 MT/day against the avg. of 177 MT/day during Feb-26

Natural Gas Supply and PNG Expansion Initiatives

• Consumers have been prioritised with 100% supplies to D-PNG and CNG-Transport.
• The overall gas allocation to fertilizer plants has been enhanced to approximately 95% of their six-month average consumption.
• Additionally, gas supply to other industrial and commercial sectors, including supplies through CGD networks, is enhanced up to 80%.
• CGD entities have been advised to prioritize PNG connections for commercial establishments such as hotels, restaurants and canteens across all their GAs, to address concerns regarding the availability of commercial LPG.
• CGD companies including IGL, MGL, GAIL Gas and BPCL are offering incentives for domestic and commercial PNG connections.
• States/UTs and Central Ministries have been requested to expedite approvals required for expansion of CGD networks.
• The Government of India vide letter dated 18.03.2026 has offered all States/UTs additional 10% allocation of commercial LPG to States provided they can help in long term transition from LPG to PNG.
• 21 States/UTs are receiving additional commercial LPG allocation linked to PNG expansion reforms.
• The Ministry of Road Transport & Highways vide letter dated 24.03.26 has adopted an ‘Accelerated Approval Framework for CGD infrastructure with reduced timelines’ as a special for 3 months to process applications pertaining to CGD infrastructure on priority.
• The Government of India vide Gazette dated 24.03.2026 has notified the Natural Gas and Petroleum Products Distribution (Through Laying, Building, Operation and Expansion of Pipelines and Other Facilities) Order, 2026 under the Essential Commodities Act, 1955. The Order provides a streamlined and time-bound framework for laying and expanding pipelines across the country, addressing delays in approvals and access to land, and enabling faster development of natural gas infrastructure, including in residential areas. It is expected to accelerate PNG network growth, enhance last-mile connectivity, and support the transition to cleaner fuels, thereby strengthening energy security and advancing India’s gas-based economy.
• PNGRB has directed CGD entities to expedite D-PNG connections. Also, the National PNG Drive 2.0 has been extended till 30.06.2026 to sustain momentum in PNG expansion.
• To encourage a cleaner, more secure and self-reliant energy future, the Government of India has developed a model draft State CBG Policy. The model policy is intended to serve as a comprehensive flexible guiding framework to enable States to create their own investor-friendly and implementation-oriented ecosystem for CBG development. Those States which opt for this, will be prioritized for the next tranche of additional allocation of commercial LPG.
• Since March 2026, about 4.5 lakh PNG connections have been gasified and about 5 lakh additional customers have registered for new connections.
• As on date, more than 34,200 PNG consumers have surrendered their LPG connections via MYPNGD.in website.

Crude Position and Refinery Operations

• All refineries are operating at high capacity with adequate crude inventories, while sufficient stocks of petrol and diesel are being maintained.
• Domestic LPG production from refineries has been increased to support domestic consumption.
• An inter-ministerial Joint Working Group (JWG) has been set up to ensure availability of petrochemical feedstock supply for the domestic market. Subsequently, Govt. of India vide order dated 01.04.2026 has permitted Oil Refinery companies including Petrochemical Complexes to make certain minimum quantities of C3 & C4 streams available for critical sectors as determined by Centre for High Technology (CHT).
• Based on the requests received from the Department of Pharmaceuticals, Department of Chemicals & Petro Chemicals (DCPC), Dept. for Promotion of Industry and internal trade (DPIIT), the provision for 1000 MT/day, from LPG pool, has been made for Pharma and Chemical sector companies.
• Since 9^th April 2026, around 1800 MT of propylene has been sold.

Retail Fuel Availability and pricing Measures

• Retail outlets across the country are operating normally.
• The Middle East crisis has led to an abnormal increase in crude prices; however, to protect consumers, the Government of India has reduced excise duty on petrol and diesel by ₹10 per litre.
• Govt. of India vide Gazette notification dated 11.04.2026 has increased the export levy on diesel to Rs. 55.50 per litre and on ATF to Rs. 42 per litre, to ensure availability of these products in the domestic market.
• Regular Retail Prices for Petrol and Diesel are unchanged and there is no price increase at PSU OMCs Retail Outlets.

Kerosene Availability and Distribution Measures

• An additional allocation of 48,000 KL of kerosene has been provided to States/UTs over and above regular allocation.
• 18 States/UTs have issued SKO allocation orders, while Himachal Pradesh and Ladakh have indicated no requirement.

Maritime Safety and Shipping Operations

The current maritime situation in the Persian Gulf, along with measures being undertaken to safeguard Indian vessels and crew, was also briefed. It was stated that:

• The Ministry continues to coordinate with the Ministry of External Affairs, Indian Missions and maritime stakeholders to ensure seafare welfare and uninterrupted maritime operations.

• All Indian seafarers in the region are safe and no incident involving Indian-flagged vessels has been reported in the past 24 hours.
• The DG Shipping Control Room has handled 6,449 calls and more than 13,443 since activation. 157 calls and 215 emails have been received in the past 24 hours.
• DG Shipping has facilitated the safe repatriation of over 2,337 Indian seafarers so far, including 75 in the past 24 hours from various locations across the Gulf region.
• Port operations across India remain normal with no congestion reported.

Safety of Indian Nationals in the Region

Recent developments in the region, including assistance through Indian Missions, were shared during the briefing. It was informed that:

• India continues active diplomatic engagement in the context of the West Asia conflict.
• The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi received a call from President Donald Trump; The two leaders reviewed the substantial progress achieved in India-US bilateral cooperation in various sectors. Both sides remain committed to further strengthening our Comprehensive Global Strategic Partnership in all areas.
• The two leaders also discussed the situation in West Asia and stressed the importance of keeping the Strait of Hormuz open and secure.
• The External Affairs Minister spoke with the Foreign Minister of Israel and discussed various aspects of the conflict in West Asia.
• He also spoke with the Foreign Minister of Australia where the two leaders shared views on the conflict in West Asia.
• Today, External Affairs Minister Participated in the ‘AZEC Plus’ meeting convened by Japan to discuss supply chain disruptions in the energy markets. He underlined India’s strong commitment to safe and unimpeded transit passage of maritime shipping. He emphasised that attacks on merchant shipping are completely unacceptable. He also underlined that global growth demands that energy markets are not constricted. As a major energy consumer, India will work with like-minded partners to develop supply chain resilience, he added.
• Our diplomatic outreach to countries in the Gulf continues on the directions of the Prime Minister. Earlier, the External Affairs Minister visited the UAE and the Minister of Petroleum and Natural Gas paid a visit to Qatar. Sharing assessment of developments in the ongoing conflict, strengthening India’s energy security and ensuring the welfare of our diaspora were key to these visits.
• Dedicated special control rooms in the Ministry of External Affairs is operational and is working in coordination with Indian missions.
• The Ministry of External Affairs is in regular contact with State Governments and Union Territories for better sharing of information and coordination.
• Indian Missions and Posts continue to operate round-the-clock helplines and are proactively assisting Indian nationals. They remain in close contact with the local Governments.
• Updated advisories are being issued regularly, including information on local government guidelines, flight and travel situations and consular services and various welfare measures being undertaken to support our community.
• Indian Missions remain actively engaged with Indian community associations, professional groups, Indian companies and other stakeholders in the region.
• Welfare of Indian seafarers in the region is accorded high priority. Our Missions are extending all assistance to the Indian crew members on vessels in the region including coordination with the local authorities and agencies, extending consular assistance, facilitating communication with families in India and facilitating requests to return to India.
• Flights continue to operate from countries where airspace remains open. Since 28 February, around 9,84,000 passengers have travelled from the region to India.
• In the UAE, airlines continue to operate limited non-scheduled commercial flights between the UAE and India based on operational and safety considerations, with around 100 flights expected today.
• Flights continue to operate from various airports in Saudi Arabia and Oman to destinations in India.
• With Qatar airspace partially open, Qatar Airways is expected to operate around 10 flights to India today.
• Kuwait airspace remains closed. Jazeera Airways and Kuwait Airways are operating non-scheduled commercial flights from Dammam Airport in Saudi Arabia to India. Due to airspace closure, we continue to facilitate travel of Indian nationals from Kuwait, through Saudi Arabia to India.
• Bahrain airspace is open. Gulf Air is planning limited flight operations from Bahrain to India and is currently operating non-scheduled flights from Dammam Airport in Saudi Arabia to India. Travel of Indian nationals to India from Bahrain continues to be facilitated through Saudi Arabia.
• Iraq airspace is open with restricted flight operations. Travel of Indian nationals continues to be facilitated through Jordan and Saudi Arabia to India.
• The Embassy of India in Tehran has so far facilitated movement of 2,323 Indian nationals from Iran to Armenia and Azerbaijan for onward travel to India, including 1,028 Indian students and 657 Indian fishermen.
• Israel airspace is partially open with restricted flight operations. Travel of Indian nationals continues to be facilitated through Jordan and Egypt to India.

Vinod Bhat

New Delhi: Amid the evolving West Asia situation, the Government of India remains actively  engaged in ensuring  and seamless functioning across key sectors. The following update details measures being undertaken in the areas of energy supply, maritime operations, and support for Indian nationals in the region.

Energy Supply and Fuel Availability

The Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas shared an update on the current fuel supply situation, outlining measures being undertaken to ensure uninterrupted availability of petroleum products and LPG amid the ongoing developments affecting the Strait of Hormuz. It was noted that:

Public Advisory and Citizen Awareness

• Citizens are advised to avoid panic purchase of petrol, diesel and LPG, as the Government is taking all efforts to ensure availability of Petrol, Diesel and LPG.
• Beware of rumours and rely on official sources for correct information.
• LPG consumers are requested to use digital booking platforms and avoid visiting distributors.
• Citizens are encouraged to use alternate fuels such as PNG and electric or induction cooktops.
• All citizens are urged to conserve energy during their daily usage in the current; situation.

Government Preparedness and Supply Management Measures

• Despite the ongoing geopolitical situation, the Government has ensured that 100% supply is being made to Domestic LPG, Domestic PNG and CNG (Transport).
• For commercial LPG, priority has been given to hospitals, educational institutions. Besides this, priority has also been given to pharma, steel, automobile, seed, agriculture, etc. In addition to this, supply of 5 Kg FTL to migrant labor is also doubled based on avg. daily supply on 2^nd and 3^rd March 2026.
• The Government has already implemented several rationalization measures on both the supply and demand side, including enhancing refinery production, increasing the booking interval from 21 to 25 days in urban areas and up to 45 days in rural areas and prioritizing sectors for supply.
• Alternate fuels such as kerosene and coal have been made available to ease pressure on LPG demand.
• The Ministry of Coal has directed Coal India and Singareni Collieries to supply additional coal to States for distribution to small and medium consumers.
• States have been advised to facilitate new PNG connections for domestic and commercial consumers.

Coordinated Efforts with States/UTs and Institutional Mechanisms

• State Governments are empowered under the Essential Commodities Act, 1955 and LPG Control Order, 2000 to monitor supply and act against hoarding and black marketing. Govt. of States/UTs have to play a primary role in monitoring and regulating supply situation of essential commodities including Petrol, Diesel and LPG. Govt. of India has reiterated the same via multiple letters and VCs to all States/UTs.
• The Government of India vide letters dated 27.03.2026 and 02.04.2026 have stressed the need for proactive public communication to reassure citizens regarding adequate fuel availability. Regular review meetings are being held with States/UTs. In this context, meetings were convened on 02.04.2026 (Chaired by Secretary, MoPNG) and on 06.04.2026 (Chaired by Secretary, MoPNG along with Secretaries of I&B and Consumer Affairs), wherein the following was emphasized:
  • To issue daily press briefings and issue regular public advisories.
  • To actively monitor and counter fake news / misinformation on social media.
  • To intensify daily enforcement drives by District admin and to continue raids and inspections in coordination with OMCs
  • To issue Commercial LPG allocation orders within their States/UTs
  • To issue SKO allocation orders for additional SKO allotted to the States/UTs.
  • To promote PNG adoptions and alternate fuels.
  • To prioritise LPG supply, especially for domestic needs, and adopt targeted distribution of 5 kg FTL cylinders to ensure supply stability.
• All States/UTs have established control rooms and district monitoring committees to curb hoarding and black marketing.
• Many States/UTs are issuing/carrying out press briefs.

Enforcement and Monitoring Actions

• Enforcement actions continue across the country to curb hoarding and black marketing of LPG. On 13.04.2026, more than 2,950 raids were conducted across the country.
• Recently on 11^th April 2026, Civil Supplies officials in Kerala seized approximately 500 illegally stored gas cylinders from a private gas agency premises in Attingal, Thiruvananthapuram. This raid was part of special enforcement to curb LPG black-marketing during the current LPG shortage. State departments are currently investigating the case.
• PSU OMCs have strengthened and continued surprise inspections and imposed penalties on 232 LPG distributorships, and 56 LPG distributorships have been suspended till yesterday.

LPG Supply

Domestic LPG Supply Status:

• LPG supply continues to be affected by the prevailing geopolitical situation.
• No dry-outs have been reported at LPG distributorships.
• Online LPG bookings have increased to 98% across the industry basis yesterday.
• Delivery Authentication Code (DAC) based deliveries have increased to around 92% to prevent diversion. DAC is received on the registered mobile number of the consumer.
• Domestic LPG cylinder deliveries remain normal against bookings.

Commercial LPG Supply and Allocation Measures:

• Total commercial LPG allocation has been increased to about 70% of pre-crisis levels, including 10% reform-linked allocation.
• The Government of India vide letter dated 06.04.2026 has conveyed that daily quantity of 5 Kg FTL cylinders in each State available for disbursal to migrant labourers is being doubled based on the average daily supply (Number of cylinders) to migrant labourers during 2nd-3rd March 2026 beyond the limit of 20% mentioned in letter dated 21.03.2026. These 5 Kg FTL cylinders will be at disposal of the State Government for supplying only to migrant labourers in their State with assistance of Oil Marketing Companies (OMCs).
• Since 3rd April 2026, PSU OMCs have organised more than 4450 awareness camps for 5 Kg FTL Cylinders, wherein more than 49,300 – 5Kg FTL cylinders were also sold.
• Recently, at one of the 5 kg FTL awareness camps organised by IOCL at Boisar Industrial Area, Palghar, Maharashtra on 12th April 2026, a good response was observed and about 800 cylinders were sold during the day.
• Since 23rd March 2026, more than 14.3 Lakh – 5 Kg FTL cylinders have been sold.
• On 13.04.2026, about 1.1 Lakh – 5 Kg FTL Cylinders were sold across the country against a daily average of 77000 in the month of Feb-26
• A three-member committee of Executive Directors from IOCL, HPCL and BPCL is coordinating with State authorities and industry bodies to plan commercial LPG distribution.
• A total of 1,31,645 MT (Equivalent to more than 69.28 Lakh of 19 Kg LPG Cylinders) of Commercial LPG has been sold since 14^th March 2026.
• On 13.04.2026, 8661 MT of Commercial LPG (Equivalent to more than 4.5 Lakh – 19 Kg cylinders) was sold.

Natural Gas Supply and PNG Expansion Initiatives

• Consumers have been prioritized with 100% supplies to D-PNG and CNG (transport).
• Based on available inventory and scheduled LNG cargo arrivals, the overall gas allocation to fertilizer plants has been enhanced by 5% to reach approximately 95% of their six-month average consumption, effective 09.04.2026.
• CGD entities have been advised to prioritise PNG connections for commercial establishments such as hotels, restaurants and canteens, to address concerns regarding the availability of commercial LPG.
• CGD companies including IGL, MGL, GAIL Gas and BPCL have offered incentives for domestic and commercial PNG connections.
• States/UTs and Central Ministries have been requested to expedite approvals required for expansion of CGD networks.
• The Government of India vide letter dated 18.03.2026 has offered all States/UTs additional 10% allocation of commercial LPG to States provided they can help in long term transition from LPG to PNG.
• 21 States/UTs are already receiving additional commercial LPG allocation linked to PNG expansion reforms.
• The Ministry of Road Transport & Highways has adopted an Accelerated Approval Framework for CGD infrastructure for 3 months to process applications on priority.
• The Government of India vide Gazette dated 24.03.2026 has notified the Natural Gas and Petroleum Products Distribution (Through Laying, Building, Operation and Expansion of Pipelines and Other Facilities) Order, 2026 under the Essential Commodities Act, 1955. The Order provides a streamlined and time-bound framework for laying and expanding pipelines across the country, addressing delays in approvals and access to land, and enabling faster development of natural gas infrastructure, including in residential areas. It is expected to accelerate PNG network growth, enhance last-mile connectivity, and support the transition to cleaner fuels, thereby strengthening energy security and advancing India’s gas-based economy.
• PNGRB has directed CGD entities to expedite D-PNG connections. Also, the National PNG Drive 2.0  has now been extended till 30.06.2026 to sustain momentum in PNG expansion.
• To encourage a cleaner, more secure and self-reliant energy future, the Government of India has developed a model draft State CBG Policy. The model policy is intended to serve as a comprehensive flexible guiding framework to enable States to create their own investor-friendly and implementation-oriented ecosystem for CBG development. Those States which opt for this, will be prioritized for the next tranche of additional allocation of commercial LPG.
• Since March 2026, about 4.40 lakh PNG connections have been gasified and about 4.88 lakh additional customers have registered for new connections.
• Till 13.04.2026, more than 33,000 PNG consumers have surrendered their LPG connections via MYPNGD.in website

Crude Position and Refinery Operations

• All refineries are operating at high capacity with adequate crude inventories, while sufficient stocks of petrol and diesel are being maintained.
• Domestic LPG production from refineries has been increased to support domestic consumption.
• The Government of India vide order dated 01.04.2026 has permitted Refining companies including Petrochemical Complexes in India to make available certain minimum quantities of C3 & C4 streams for critical sectors like Department of Pharmaceuticals, Department of Food & Public Distribution, Department of Chemicals & Petro Chemicals etc.. Provision for 800 MT/day has been made for companies related to above departments.

Retail Fuel Availability and pricing Measures

• Retail outlets across the country are operating normally.
• The Middle East crisis has led to an abnormal increase in crude prices; however, to protect consumers, the Government of India has reduced excise duty on petrol and diesel by ₹10 per litre.
• The Government of India vide Gazette notification dated 11.04.2026 has increased the export levy on diesel to Rs. 55.50 per litre and on ATF to Rs. 42 per litre to ensure availability of these products in the domestic market.
• Retail prices of petrol and diesel remain unchanged with no increase at retail outlets.

Kerosene Availability and Distribution Measures

• An additional allocation of 48,000 KL of kerosene has been provided to States/UTs over and above regular allocation.
• 18 States/UTs have issued SKO allocation orders, while Himachal Pradesh and Ladakh have indicated no requirement.

Maritime Safety and Shipping Operations

Necessary measures have been put in place to safeguard Indian vessels and seafarers operating in the region, by the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways. The Ministry stated that:

• All Indian seafarers in the region are safe and no incident involving Indian-flagged vessels has been reported in the past 24 hours.
• The DG Shipping Control Room has handled 6,292 calls and more than 13,228 emails since activation, including 219 calls and 361 emails in the past 24 hours.
• DG Shipping has facilitated the safe repatriation of over 2,262 Indian seafarers so far, including 85 in the past 24 hours from various locations across the Gulf region.
• Port operations across India continue normally with no congestion reported.
• The Ministry continues to coordinate closely with the Ministry of External Affairs, Indian Missions and maritime stakeholders to ensure the welfare of Indian seafarers and uninterrupted maritime operations.

Safety of Indian Nationals in the Region

Across the region, Indian Missions and Posts remain in close contact with the Indian community, while continuing to provide assistance and issue necessary advisories for their safety and well-being. As informed by Ministry of External Affairs:

• The Ministry of External Affairs continued its outreach to countries in West Asia.
• External Affaits Minister spoke to the Foreign Minister of Kuwait. He discussed the regional situation and the well-being of the Indian community.
• The Minister of External Affairs also spoke with the Foreign Minister of Israel and discussed various aspects of the conflict in West Asia.
• Further, External Affairs Minister also spoke with the Foreign Ministers of Singapore and Australia where in they shared views on the conflict in West Asia.

• The Government continues to closely monitor developments in the Gulf and West Asia region.
• Ministry of External Affairs is in regular contact with State Governments and Union Territories for better sharing of information and coordination.
• Efforts remain focused on ensuring the safety, security and welfare of the Indian community in the region.
• Indian Missions and Posts continue to operate round-the-clock helplines and are proactively assisting Indian nationals. They remain in close contact with the local Governments.
• Updated advisories are being issued regularly, including information on local government guidelines, flight and travel situations and consular services and various welfare measures being undertaken to support our community.
• Our Missions remain actively engaged with Indian community associations, professional groups, Indian companies and other stakeholders in the region.
• Our Missions are extending all assistance to the Indian crew members on vessels in the region including coordination with the local authorities and agencies, extending consular assistance, and facilitating requests to return to India.
• Flights continue to operate from countries where airspace remains open. Since 28 February, around 9,55,000 passengers have travelled from the region to India.
• In the UAE, airlines continue to operate limited non-scheduled commercial flights between the UAE and India based on operational and safety considerations, with around 100 flights expected today.
• Flights continue to operate from various airports in Saudi Arabia and Oman to destinations in India.
• With Qatar airspace partially open, Qatar Airways is expected to operate around 10 flights to India today.
• Kuwait airspace remains closed. Jazeera Airways of Kuwait and Kuwait Airways are operating non-scheduled commercial flights from Dammam Airport in Saudi Arabia to India. Travel of Indian nationals to India from Kuwait continues to be facilitated through Saudi Arabia.
• Bahrain airspace is open. Gulf Air is expected to begin limited flight operations from Bahrain to India soon and is currently operating non-scheduled flights from Dammam Airport in Saudi Arabia to India. Travel of Indian nationals from Bahrain continues to be facilitated through Saudi Arabia to India.
• Embassy in Tehran has so far facilitated movement of 2,313 Indian nationals from Iran to Armenia and Azerbaijan for onward travel to India. This includes 1028 Indian students and 657 Indian fishermen.
• Israel airspace is partially open with restricted flight operations. Travel of Indian nationals is being facilitated from Israel, through Jordan and Egypt to India.
• Iraq airspace is open. Iraqi Airways has resumed flights to India.  Travel of Indian nationals continues to be facilitated from Iraq, through Jordan and Saudi Arabia to India.

Vinod Bhat

New Delhi: The National Film Development Corporation Ltd. (NFDC), under the Ministry of Information & Broadcasting, is set to release its latest Malayalam feature film, Achappa’s Album (Grampa’s Album). A unique combination of family fantasy, comedy, and emotion, the film explores a time-travel narrative and is scheduled to hit screens on 24 April 2026.

Directed by Deepti Pillay Sivan and written by Sanjeev Sivan, Anirban Bhattacharya, and Umesh Nair, the film explores the universal fascination with revisiting the past. The plot follows a father and son who, through an unforeseen twist of fate, begin living each other’s lives. This transformation serves as the backdrop for a poignant and humorous exploration of generational perspectives and life choices.

The film features a notable ensemble cast, including veteran actor Mohan Agashe, alongside Anjana Appukuttan, Aadinath Kothare, Priyanka Nair, and Sidhanshu Sanjeev Sivan. The technical crew boasts renowned professionals such as cinematographer Manoj Pillai, National Award-winning editor Sreekar Prasad, and music composer Gulraj Singh.

Speaking about the film, Director Deepti Pillay Sivan said, “The film explores deep human relationships through a simple yet engaging time-travel narrative. We are grateful for NFDC’s pivotal support in bringing this story to the silver screen.”

Highlighting NFDC’s role in promoting diverse cinema, Shri Prakash Magdum, Managing Director, NFDC, stated, “This film reflects our commitment to nurturing unique voices in Indian cinema. By combining an imaginative concept with emotional depth, Achappa’s Album has the potential to resonate with audiences across all generations.”

The first glimpse teaser is currently available on NFDC’s social media platforms, with the official trailer expected to be released shortly. The teaser may be viewed [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G6WDgZNA5u8].