Vinod Bhat

New Delhi: In light of the current situation in West Asia, the Government of India remains actively engaged in ensuring preparedness and continuity across key sectors through coordinated response measures. The following update outlines the steps being taken with regard to energy supply, maritime operations, and support to Indian nationals in the region:

Energy Supply and Fuel Availability

Necessary measures are being undertaken to ensure uninterrupted availability of petroleum products and LPG across the country, in view of the ongoing closure of the Strait of Hormuz. As per Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas:

Public Advisory and Citizen Awareness

· Govt. is making all efforts to ensure availability of Petrol, Diesel and LPG, and citizens are advised to avoid panic purchase of Petrol and Diesel as well as unnecessary booking of LPG.

· Citizens are advised to beware of rumours and rely only on official sources for correct information.

· For LPG, citizens are requested to use digital modes for booking of LPG cylinders and avoid visiting LPG distributors unless necessary.

· Citizens are encouraged to use alternate fuels such as PNG, induction and electric cooktops wherever feasible.

· In the current situation, all citizens are requested to make necessary efforts to conserve energy in their daily usage.

Government Preparedness and Supply Management Measures

· Despite this war situation, Government has given highest priority to domestic LPG and PNG, along with high priority to hospitals and educational institutions.

· 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 fuel options like Kerosene and coal have been offered to ease pressure on LPG demand.

· Ministry of Coal has already issued order to Coal India and Singareni Collieries to allot higher quantities to States for distributing coal to small, medium and other consumers.

· States have been advised to facilitate the new PNG connections for both domestic and commercial consumers.

· Secretary (MoPNG) chaired a meeting with Additional Chief Secretaries and Principal Secretaries (Food & Civil Supplies) of all States and UTs to review the fuel supply situation and highlighted measures taken to ensure adequate availability. States were directed to prioritize LPG distribution, especially for domestic and essential needs, while maintaining strict vigilance against hoarding, diversion, and misinformation. On reports concerning FTL LPG supplies to migrant workers, States clarified that there is no disruption in LPG supply affecting migrants and that supplies remain stable. Secretary informed that states may consider managing targeted distribution of 5 kg FTL LPG cylinders, based on local requirements alongwith OMCs.

Coordinated efforts with States/UTs and Institutional Mechanisms

· Under Essential Commodities Act, 1955 and LPG Control Order, 2000, State Governments are empowered to act against any 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.

· All Chief Secretaries, ACS/Principal Secretary/Secretary Food & Civil supply of all the States/UTs are requested –

Ø To institutionalize daily press briefings at State/District level and issue regular public advisories.

Ø To setup dedicated control rooms/helplines

Ø To actively monitor and counter fake news / misinformation on social media.

Ø To intensify daily enforcement drives by District admin and to continue raids and inspections in coordination with OMCs

Ø To issue Commercial LPG allocation orders within their States/UTs

Ø To issue SKO allocation orders for additional SKO allotted to the States/UTs.

Ø To fast track CGD expansion incl. expediting RoW/RoU permissions, 24×7 work permissions etc.

Ø To promote PNG adoptions and alternate fuels.

Ø To nominate senior nodal officers for coordination with MoPNG

· Government of India vide letter dated 27.03.2026 and 02.04.2026 have requested Chief Secretaries of all States/UTs to intensify proactive & regular public communication, conduct daily press briefs at appropriate senior level along with timely dissemination of accurate information through social and electronic media to effectively counter misinformation and to reassure citizens regarding adequate availability and smooth distribution of LPG.

· Currently, 21 States/UTs are issuing/carrying out press briefs.

Enforcement and Monitoring Actions

· Raids continue to be carried out in many of the States/UTs to check the hoardings and black marketing of LPG. More than 4000 raids have been conducted, and more than 1300 cylinders have been seized yesterday.

· PSU OMCs officials have been directed to strengthen the system of surprise inspection to deter any instance of hoardings/black marketing.

· PSU OMCs have issued more than 670 show cause notices to LPG distributorships till date.

Domestic LPG Supply Status

· Supply of LPG is affected due to prevailing geopolitical situation. Despite this, no reported dry-out at LPG distributorships.

· Online LPG cylinder bookings have increased to 94% on industry basis yesterday.

· To prevent diversion at the distributor level, Delivery Authentication Code (DAC) based deliveries have been increased from 53% (Feb-2026) to 86% yesterday.

· Around 55 Lakh Domestic LPG Cylinders were delivered yesterday.

Commercial LPG Supply and Allocation Measures

· Govt. 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. based on specific quantity and refinery source as determined by the Centre for High Technology (CHT).

· Govt. had already restored Partial Commercial LPG supply (20%) to consumers. Further, Govt. of India vide letter dated 18.03.2026 had proposed allocation of additional 10% of Commercial LPG to States/UTs based on ease of doing business reforms for PNG expansion. Govt. of India vide letter dated 21.03.2026 allowed another 20% allocation, taking the overall allocation to 50% (including 10% reform-based), with priority to restaurants, dhabas, hotels, industrial canteens, food processing/dairy units, subsidised canteens/outlets, community kitchens and 5 Kg FTL cylinders for migrant labourers. Subsequently, vide letter dated 27.03.2026, an additional 20% allocation has been provided, increasing the total to 70% of pre-crises level (including 10% reform-based), with priority to industries such as steel, automobile, textile, dye, chemicals and plastics, especially process industries requiring LPG for specialised heating not substitutable by natural gas.

· Yesterday, more than 67,000 – 5Kg FTL cylinders have been sold.

· Since 23rd March 2026, about 5 Lakh – 5 Kg FTL cylinders have been sold.

· Most of the States/UTs have issued orders to allocate the Non-domestic LPG in line with the guidelines issued by the Govt. of India. A total of 66693 MT has been uplifted since 14th March 2026 by commercial entities in the States/UTs.

Natural Gas Supply and PNG Expansion Initiatives

· Consumers have been prioritised with 100% supplies to D-PNG and CNG-Transport.

· Supplies to industrial & commercial consumers connected on grid is at 80% of their average consumption.

· City Gas Distribution (CGD) entities have also been advised by Govt. of India to prioritize PNG connections for commercial establishments such as restaurants, hotels and canteens across all their Geographical Areas, to address concerns regarding the availability of commercial LPG.

· All industrial consumers including fertilizer plants have been advised to provide their additional requirement on spot basis so that the same may be arranged by the Gas marketing companies.

· CGD Companies like IGL, MGL, GAIL Gas and BPCL have offered incentives for taking domestic and Commercial PNG connections.

· Govt. of India has requested Govt. of States/UTs and Central Ministries to expedite approval of applications required for expansion of CGD network.

· Govt. 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. 10 States are getting additional commercial LPG allocation under reform measures of PNG expansion. In addition to this, application from 1 more state is under examination.

· PNGRB vide its order dated 23.03.2026 has directed all CGD entities to make all out efforts to connect residential schools & colleges, hostels, community kitchens, anganwadi kitchens etc. through PNG within 5 days, wherever pipeline infrastructure is available in near vicinity.

· Ministry of Road, Transport & Highways vide letter dated 24.03.2026 has stated that they have adopted “Accelerated Approval Framework for CGD Infrastructure with reduced timelines” as a special measure for 3 months wherein applications pertaining to CGD infrastructure shall be processed on priority.

· Govt. 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.

· Ministry of Defence vide letter 27.03.2026 has issued a short-term policy modification, effective until June 30, 2026, to expedite the installation of PNG infrastructure in all residential areas/unit lines of defence.

· PNGRB has directed CGD entities to expedite D-PNG connections. Also, the National PNG Drive 2.0 (01.01.2026-31.03.2026) has now been extended till 30.06.2026 to sustain momentum in PNG expansion.

· More than 75,000 connections have been gasified in 110 Gas during last one week.

· Since March 2026, more than 3.42 Lakh PNG connections have been gasified. Further, more than 3.7 Lakh customers have been registered for new connections.

Crude Position and Refinery Operations

· All refineries are operating at high capacity, with adequate crude inventories in place. The country is also maintaining sufficient stocks of petrol and diesel.

· Domestic LPG production from refineries has been increased to support domestic consumption.

Retail Fuel Availability and Pricing Measures

· All Retail outlets are operating normally across the country.

· Middle East crises has resulted into abnormal increase in the crude prices. In order to protect consumers from this impact, the Government of India has decided to absorb a part of this burden through a reduction in excise duties on petrol and diesel by Rs. 10/litre.

· Further, Govt. of India has imposed export levy of Rs 21.5 per litre on diesel and Rs 29.5 per litre on aviation turbine fuel (ATF) to ensure availability of these products in the domestic market.

· Instances of Panic Buying due to rumours have been noticed in certain areas, resulting in unusually high sales and heavy crowding at retail outlets. However, it is informed that there are adequate stocks of petrol and diesel available at all petrol pumps in the country.

· Regular retail prices for petrol and diesel remain unchanged and there is no price increase at retail outlets. There is under recovery of Rs. 24.40/Ltr on petrol and Rs. 104.99/Ltr on diesel to PSU OMCs.

· The Government reiterates its advice not to believe rumours. In order to curb rumours, the State Governments have also been requested to disseminate correct information through press briefings.

Kerosene Availability and Distribution Measures

· Additional allocation of 48000 KL of Kerosene over and above the regular allocation has been made to all the States/UTs.

· Govt. of India vide Gazette notification dated 29.03.2026 has facilitated distribution of PDS SKO in PDS SKO Free States/UTs for cooking and lighting purpose only.

· A maximum of two PSU OMC service stations per district (preferably Company Owned Company Operated) are permitted to store up to 5,000 litres of PDS SKO.

· These PSU OMC service stations shall be designated by the State Government or UT administration in each district.

· 17 States/UTs have issued SKO allocation orders. Further, Himachal Pradesh and Ladakh have communicated that there is no SKO requirement in the State/UT.

Maritime Safety and Shipping Operations

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

· It continues to closely monitor shipping movements, port operations and the safety of Indian seafarers, while ensuring continuity of maritime trade.

· All Indian seafarers in the region are safe, and no incident involving Indian-flagged vessels has been reported in the past 24 hours.

· A total of 18 Indian-flagged vessels with 485 Indian seafarers remain in the western Persian Gulf region, and the Directorate General of Shipping (DG Shipping), in coordination with ship owners, RPSL agencies and Indian Missions, is actively monitoring the situation.

· The DG Shipping Control Room remains operational 24×7 and has handled 4984 calls and 10296 emails since activation; in the past 24 hours, 99 calls and 362 emails have been received.

· DG Shipping has facilitated the safe repatriation of over 1130 Indian seafarers so far, including 155 in the last 24 hours from airports and various regional locations across the Gulf.

· Port operations across India remain normal, with no congestion reported, and State Maritime Boards of Gujarat, Maharashtra, Goa, Kerala, Andhra Pradesh and Puducherry have confirmed smooth functioning.

· The Ministry continues to coordinate with the Ministry of External Affairs, Indian Missions and maritime stakeholders to ensure seafarer welfare 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:

• On April 02, 2026, Russia’s First Deputy Prime Minister Denis Manturov, co-chair of the India-Russia Inter-Governmental Commission (IRIGC-TEC), called on Prime Minister Narendra Modi; both discussed mutually beneficial cooperation in trade, fertilizers, connectivity and people-to-people ties, and reviewed progress in implementing the outcomes of the 23^rd India-Russia Annual Summit held during President Putin’s visit to India last December.
• On the same day, EAM held an in-depth conversation with First Deputy Prime Minister Denis Manturov on India-Russia bilateral cooperation across trade, industry, energy, fertilizers, connectivity and mobility, and exchanged views on regional and global developments, including the conflict in West Asia.
• The Ministry of External Affairs continues to closely monitor the evolving situation in the Gulf and West Asia region, with the safety, security and welfare of the large Indian community remaining the highest priority; a dedicated special control room is operational to support Indian nationals and their families, and regular coordination is being maintained with State Governments and Union Territories, as well as with Embassies and Consulates.
• Missions and Posts across the region are operating round-the-clock helplines and remain actively engaged with Indian community associations, organisations and companies; regular advisories are being issued for nationals, students, seafarers and resident Indian communities, while Missions remain in close touch with local governments and are facilitating visas, consular services, transit through neighbouring countries where airspace restrictions apply, and logistical support wherever required.
• Welfare of Indian students in the Gulf countries remains a high priority, with Missions coordinating closely with local authorities, Indian schools, relevant educational Boards and the National Testing Agency (for JEE and NEET) to ensure that the academic year is not impacted.
• Missions are in continuous contact with Indian crew members on vessels across the region to ensure their welfare, providing consular assistance, facilitating communication with families, coordinating with local authorities and assisting those seeking return to India.
• The overall flight situation continues to improve, with additional flights operating from the region to various destinations in India; since February 28, around 6,49,000 passengers have travelled from the region to India.

• UAE: Airlines continue to operate limited non-scheduled flights based on operational and safety considerations, with around 90 flights expected from the UAE to India.
• Saudi Arabia and Oman: Flights are operating from various airports to different destinations in India.
• Qatar: With partial reopening of airspace, Qatar Airways is expected to operate around 8–10 flights to India.
• Kuwait: Airspace remains closed; Jazeera Airways is operating non-scheduled commercial flights from Dammam (Saudi Arabia) to India, and Kuwait Airways has also announced similar operations.
• Bahrain: Airspace remains closed; Gulf Air is operating non-scheduled commercial flights from Dammam (Saudi Arabia) to India.
• Iran: In view of airspace closure, travel of Indian nationals is being facilitated through Armenia and Azerbaijan; so far, 1,267 Indians (including 860 students) have exited Iran with Mission support.
• Israel: Travel of Indian nationals is being facilitated via Egypt and Jordan due to airspace restrictions.
• Iraq: Travel of Indian nationals is being facilitated through Jordan and Saudi Arabia in view of airspace closure.
• In view of airspace closures in Kuwait and Bahrain, travel of Indian nationals is being facilitated via Saudi Arabia to India.

Vinod Bhat

New Delhi: Union Minister for Railways, Information & Broadcasting and Electronics & Information Technology, Shri Ashwini Vaishnaw, today chaired a review meeting with railway officials across the country at Rail Bhawan, New Delhi.

The Union Minister emphasized that providing a good travel experience to the poor and middle class remains the top priority of Indian Railways. He called upon all officials to work collectively towards this goal. Shri Vaishnaw also congratulated the entire Railway family for their commendable performance last year. He highlighted that the historic reduction in rail accidents and record freight loading have significantly improved the image of Indian Railways across the country. He also appreciated the effective operation of a large number of special trains during festivals, which helped meet the increased demand for travel.

Highlighting the importance of passenger experience, the Union Minister stated that railway stations are the face of Indian Railways before the public and must be kept clean and well-maintained. He urged officials to work with full dedication to ensure cleanliness and improved passenger amenities at all stations. Referring to the record allocation for railway modernization in the past decade, he emphasized that officials must ensure optimal utilization of funds to transform railway stations and enhance passenger facilities.

The Union Minister stressed that crowd management during peak periods, especially festivals, should ensure that passengers can reach platforms and board trains smoothly and without inconvenience. He directed officials to prioritise the use of allocated funds for improving passenger convenience and accessibility.

The issue of pending land acquisition for ongoing railway projects was also discussed. Shri Vaishnaw directed officials to expedite the process and, if required, seek the expertise of experienced retired officers of state revenue and forest departments to overcome bottlenecks.

Addressing the sensitive issue related to people living near railway tracks, the Union Minister emphasized that livelihoods must not be adversely affected. He directed railway officials to adopt a humane and sensitive approach in resolving such matters, in coordination with state governments. He noted that this is a significant issue in many urban areas and requires timely and compassionate resolution.

The meeting also reviewed the earlier decision regarding construction of rail underpasses (Puliyas). It was decided that, wherever feasible, convenient and accessible underpasses should be prioritised over foot overbridges for crossing railway tracks, both within station premises and outside. The Minister noted that underpasses are more user-friendly and are likely to be used more frequently by the public.

It was further decided to undertake pilot projects in different parts of the country to construct such underpasses. These will be designed to facilitate movement not only for pedestrians but also for cycles, scooters and motorcycles, and in some cases, wider structures will allow movement of tractors and other vehicles. Designs will be tailored to meet the requirements of both urban and rural areas.

The Union Railway Minister also appreciated the performance of zones in ensuring punctual train operations. He congratulated zones that have maintained high levels of punctuality and particularly appreciated those that have improved their performance by ensuring more than 85% punctuality despite operational challenges.

Shri Vaishnaw reiterated that with sustained efforts, efficient planning and a passenger-centric approach, Indian Railways will continue to enhance safety, service quality and overall travel experience for passengers across the country.

Vinod Bhat

New Delhi: The second meeting of the Informal Group of Ministers (IGoM), set-up to monitor the evolving situation in West Asia and suggest proactive measures for its minimum impact on India, was held under the chairmanship of Raksha Mantri Shri Rajnath Singh at Kartavya Bhawan-2, New Delhi on April 02, 2026. The IGoM deliberated upon the recent developments at length, and the next steps to be taken by the Government to mitigate any adverse impact arising due to the ongoing conflict.

Minister of Finance & Corporate Affairs Smt Nirmala Sitharaman; Minister of Petroleum and Natural Gas Shri Hardeep Singh Puri; Minister of Power Shri Manohar Lal; Minister of Chemicals & Fertilizers Shri Jagat Prakash Nadda; Minister of External Affairs Dr S Jaishankar; Minister of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution Shri Prahlad Joshi; Minister of State (Independent Charge) of the Ministry of Science and Technology Dr Jitendra Singh; and Minister of Railways, Information and Broadcasting, Electronics & Information Technology Shri Ashwini Vaishnaw attended the meeting.

In view of the “uncertain situation”, Raksha Mantri underlined the importance of round-the-clock monitoring of the situation and the need to respond in a calibrated manner to deal with any eventuality.  He stressed on the need to leave no stone unturned to ensure that the people of the country face the minimum effect of the conflict.

During the meeting, the seven Empowered Groups of Secretaries briefed the IGoM on the steps being taken to tackle the situation. The IGoM was apprised about measures undertaken by the Ministry of Finance to address concerns arising due to global trade disruptions and provide relief and support to the industry, especially manufacturing, and bolster investor confidence. These include the following:

• Notification dated April 01, 2026 issued related to full customs duty exemption on 40 critical petrochemical products till June 30, 2026.
• Announcement of a special one-time relief measure for eligible units in SEZs to sell manufactured goods in Domestic Tariff Area (DTA) at concessional customs duty rates to be effective from April 01, 2026 to March 31, 2027.
• Notification dated March 31, 2026 issued by DoR clarifying that the provisions of GAAR will not be invoked in respect of investments made prior to April 01, 2017.

These measures will reduce cost pressures on downstream sectors including textiles, packaging and pharmaceuticals, facilitate supply stability in the country and provide requisite clarity for investors contemplating investments in India.

Shri Rajnath Singh appreciated the Government’s decision to impose a 25% cap on the monthly increase in Aviation Turbine Fuel prices for domestic operations, with effect from April 01, 2026. This step will help protect the people from sudden increase in fares, he said.

The Government has accorded highest priority to domestic LPG supply, with refinery production enhanced to fully meet consumption requirements. The IGoM was informed that there have been no reports of dry-out at LPG distributorships, and delivery of domestic LPG cylinders continues as per the normal schedule. The temporary supply concerns arose due to instances of hoarding and black marketing, which triggered panic buying in certain areas.

The Ministers were informed that strict enforcement action is being undertaken, with raids being carried out across multiple States/Union Territories to curb hoarding and black marketing of LPG. Action has also been taken against some LPG distributors who engaged in malpractices.

To support migrant labour and low-consumption households, the Government is ensuring adequate availability of 5 kg Free Trade LPG cylinders, and since March 23, 2026, over 4.3 lakh such cylinders have been sold. Special focus is being given to States where demand is higher.

The IGoM was apprised that industrial requirements dependent on commercial LPG are being met, with over 80% of pre-crisis supply levels being maintained to ensure continuity of operations. Special meetings have been held with ministries and stakeholders of different industries to understand their demand and meet their needs. Oil PSUs are ensuring continued supply of Auto LPG across the country. However, some supply constraints are being faced by private operators due to their procurement challenges, which is why lines are being observed at PSU auto LPG pumps. Wherever the autos are dual feed and can use petrol, they are being encouraged to use petrol.

The Ministers were informed that the number of LPG deliveries per day has been increased significantly to cater to the surge in demand caused by panic buying, ensuring that there is no shortage for consumers. Piped Natural Gas (PNG) is being actively promoted for industrial use as a reliable alternative, wherever feasible. PNG supplies for industrial usage are being ensured in sectors where it is already in use, maintaining operational continuity.

The IGoM was also apprised that certain miscreants are deliberately attempting to create panic by circulating photoshopped and morphed images and misleading content on social media. Such actions are being closely monitored. Citizens are strongly advised not to believe or share unverified information and to rely only on official sources for accurate updates.

The first meeting of the IGoM took place on March 28, 2026, during which Raksha Mantri had directed the officials to closely monitor the situation, adopt a medium to long-term preparedness approach, maintain high-level coordination, and ensure swift decision-making.

Vinod Bhat

New Delhi:Secretary (Petroleum) chaired a meeting with Additional Chief Secretaries and Principal Secretaries (Food & Civil Supplies) of all States and Union Territories to review the fuel supply situation across the country.

He briefed the states/UTs on steps taken by the Government to ease the supply of essential petroleum fuels and also appreciated respective states/UTs to work alongside the central Government to deal with the evolving situation.

Secretary (Petroleum) stressed that States/UTs must actively manage and prioritize LPG distribution to ensure uninterrupted supply for domestic consumers and essential sectors. States were also advised to maintain strict vigilance against hoarding, diversion, and the spread of misinformation that could trigger unnecessary panic.

States such as Uttar Pradesh, Gujarat, Haryana, Delhi, Maharashtra and Andhra Pradesh were commended for proactive enforcement actions, including raids to curb irregularities. Other States were urged to further strengthen monitoring and enforcement and take exemplary action on offenders. States were also requested to actively thwart attempts to mislead and spread false rumours with regard to supplies.

On reports concerning FTL LPG supplies to migrant workers, States clarified that there is no disruption in LPG supply affecting migrants and that supplies remain stable. Secretary informed that states may consider managing targeted distribution of 5 kg FTL LPG cylinders, based on local requirements alongwith OMCs. On LPG for autos it was clarified that efforts are ongoing to meet this demand, and autos that can run both on LPG and petrol should be encouraged to use the later.

Secretary (Petroleum) appreciated the cooperation of all States and UTs and called for continued close monitoring to ensure supply stability and maintain public confidence.