Vinod Bhat

New Delhi: The International Conference on Carbon Markets- Prakriti 2026, the flagship event of the Government of India, organized by the Bureau of Energy Efficiency under the patronage of the Ministry of Power and Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, commenced today in New Delhi.The conference, organised as part of Bharat Electricity Summit 2026, provides a high-level platform for national and international experts, policymakers, industry leaders, researchers, and practitioners to deliberate on the evolving dynamics of carbon markets, their role in climate action, and opportunities for India’s green growth. This year’s theme- “Unlocking Carbon Finance for NDC Implementation through Global Partnerships and Digital Pathways” reflects India’s focus on mobilizing finance, strengthening cooperation, and leveraging digital innovation to accelerate climate action. During the event, the Indian Carbon Market Portal (www.indiancarbonmarket.gov.in)- a central platform for implementing and administering the Indian Carbon Market was launched by Shri Manohar Lal the Union Minister for Power & Housing and Urban Affairs,Shri Shripad Naik Minister of State for Power, and other dignitaries.

Inaugurating the portal, Shri Manohar Lal, highlighted India’s leadership in advancing climate commitments under the visionary guidance of the  Prime Minister. He stated, India has demonstrated that climate responsibility and economic development can go hand in hand. Through initiatives such as the Carbon Credit Trading Scheme (CCTS), renewable energy expansion, and energy efficiency programmes, India is building a transparent and credible carbon market framework that will serve as a long-term national asset.

He further noted that India has already established a transparent Carbon Credit Trading Scheme with nine notified methodologies and over 40 registered entities submitting projects in biogas, hydrogen, and forestry. On the compliance side, GEI targets for nearly 490 obligated entities across seven energy-intensive sectors have been notified, ensuring emission reductions are verifiable and credible.

He urged businesses to view carbon markets not merely as a compliance requirement but as a strategic opportunity for innovation, investment, sustainable growth, and entrepreneurship, adding that they will serve as an economic platform to facilitate the same.”

The  Minister of State for Power, Shri Shripad Naik, underscored the three pillars or three Cs essential for robust carbon markets- credibility through digital MRV for verifiable emission reductions, capital to channel trillions into clean technologies like renewables and green hydrogen, and collaboration via Paris Agreement Article 6. He highlighted India’s rapid rise as a global renewable energy leader, alongside energy efficiency gains and the operational Carbon Credit Trading Scheme (CCTS) 2023 with expanding methodologies across sectors. He emphasized that these advancements show how guarded climate action and economic growth are complementary, with carbon markets poised to drive high-integrity ambition, empower MSMEs and farmers, and shape transparent global pathways.

The two-day conference will feature sessions on global carbon markets under the Paris Agreement Crediting Mechanism (PACM), compliance frameworks, digital MRV technologies, carbon border policies, integration of buildings and cooling into India’s CCTS, empowering farmers, unlocking finance for clean technologies, and corporate climate action. Together, these sessions underscored India’s proactive approach to shaping credible, inclusive, and globally aligned carbon markets.

Prakriti 2026 reaffirms India’s emergence as a global leader in climate action. By building a carbon market anchored in transparency, credibility, and innovation, India is not only accelerating its domestic green transition but also shaping international pathways for sustainable growth. The conference marks a decisive step in positioning India as a trusted hub for climate solutions and a driving force in the global momentum towards a low-carbon future.

Vinod Baht

New Delhi: An update on the preparedness and response measures being undertaken by the Government of India in light of the ongoing developments in West Asia is shared below. These cover key areas including energy supply, maritime operations, and support for Indian nationals in the region.

Energy Supply and Fuel Availability

In view of the closure of the Strait of Hormuz, steps have been taken to ensure stable availability of petroleum products and LPG across the country. The current position is as follows:

Crude/Refineries

· 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.

Retail Outlets

· No cases of fuel dry outs have been reported at any of the ROs by the Oil Marketing Companies. The Government reiterates its advice to the public not to resort to panic buying, as adequate stocks of petrol and diesel are available and supplies are being maintained regularly.

Natural Gas

· Priority sectors have been protected for their supplies including 100% supply 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 Gas, to address concerns regarding the availability of commercial LPG.

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

· CGD entities have been directed by PNGRB to shorten the timeline between the submission of applications and the commencement of gas supply to consumer households.

· Govt. of India vide letter date 16.03.2026 has requested Govt. of States/UTs 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.

· In addition, the Govt. of India vide letter dated 19.03.2026 have requested all concerned Central Government Ministries-

Ø To issue necessary directions to the concerned Department/Bodies for immediate fast tracking and disposal of all pending and new permissions related to CGD infrastructure.

Ø A streamlined and time bound mechanism for processing future CGD related permission requests may also be put in place.

Ø All Central Government establishments/Colonies/Officers/Canteens may also be advised to switch over to PNG wherever the same is available.

· Govt. of India vide letter dated 20.03.2026 has requested all Central Govt. Ministries to undertake a comprehensive assessment of potential demand for PNG connections in establishments under various Ministries/Departments of the Govt. of India and to designate a nodal officer from each Ministry/Department to coordinate this exercise.

· In response to above Govt. of India letter, Petroleum and Explosive Safety Organisation (PESO) has advised all its offices to dispose off CGD applications on priority i.e., within 10 days of receipt.

· Commercial LPG consumers in the major cities and urban area have been requested to switch to PNG.

LPG

· Supply of LPG is still a concern in view of prevailing geopolitical situation.

Domestic LPG Supply:

· No reported dry-out at LPG distributorships.

· Majority of the Deliveries are happening via Delivery authentication code (DAC).

· Panic bookings have reduced.

· Delivery of Domestic LPG Cylinders is normal.

Commercial LPG supply:

· Govt. has already restored Partial Commercial LPG supply (20%) to consumers. Further, Govt. of India vide letter dated 18.03.2026 has proposed to allocate 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 has allowed another 20% allocation of commercial LPG to States, which would take overall allocation to 50% (incl. 10% allocation based on ease of doing reforms for PNG expansion). This additional 20% allocation shall be given on priority to sectors like restaurants, dhabas, hotels, industrial canteens, food processing/dairy, subsidised canteens/outlets run by State Govt. or local bodies for food, community kitchens, 5 Kg FTL for migrant labourers.

· 20 States/UTs have issued orders to allocate the Non-domestic LPG in line with the guidelines issued by the Govt. of India. For rest of the States/UTs, PSU Oil Marketing companies are releasing Commercial LPG cylinders. A total of around 13,479 MT has been uplifted during last one week by commercial entities in the States/UTs.

· Educational Institutions and Hospitals have been prioritised and around 50% of the total commercial LPG allocation is going to these sectors.

Kerosene

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

· States/UTs have been requested to identify locations in districts for distribution of kerosene.

· 15 States/UTs have issued SKO allocation orders. Further, Himachal Pradesh and Ladakh have communicated that there is no SKO requirement in the State/UT. As on date, 17 States/UTs are yet to issue SKO allocation orders.

Meetings conducted by State Governments

· Under Essential Commodities Act, 1955 and LPG Control Order, 2000, State Govt. 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 vide letter dated 13.03.2026 and 18.03.2026 has requested all States/UTs –

Ø To maintain strict vigilance so as to curb hoarding, black marketing, diversion of domestic LPG and other malpractices.

Ø To take stringent action against violators under the provisions of Essential Commodities Act, 1955, Petroleum Act, 1934, Petroleum Rules 2002, Motor Spirit and HSD order 2005 and other applicable laws.

Ø To evolve appropriate distribution methodologies for commercial LPG, keeping in view local priorities and requirements.

Ø To issue public advisories to prevent panic buying, encourage judicious use of LPG and dissemination of accurate information.

· 32 States/UTs have setup control rooms. Many of the States/UTs are doing daily press briefs also.

· 32 States/UTs have setup District Level Monitoring Committee.

· All those States/UTs who have not setup Control rooms and District Monitoring committees are requested to do so on urgent basis.

Enforcement action

· Raids continue to be carried out in many of the States/UTs to check the hoardings and black marketing of LPG. More than 3,500 raids have been conducted and around 1400 cylinders have been seized in Uttar Pradesh, Telangana, Maharashtra etc.

· All the States/UTs govt. are requested to conduct regular raids so that black marketing and hoardings can be arrested.

· PSU OMCs officials have conducted surprise inspections at more than 2,000 RO and LPG distributorships across the country to ensure smooth supplies and to check any hoardings/black marketing cases.

Other Government Measures

· Despite this war situation, Government’s 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. MoEFCC has already advised State Pollution Control Board for permitting the use of kerosene and coal as alternate use.

· Ministry of Coal has already issued order to Coal India and Singareni Coallieries 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. A proposal for 10% additional allocation of commercial LPG has been made to the States facilitating and expediting the process.

Public Advisory

· Government is taking all necessary steps to ensure uninterrupted availability and delivery of LPG cylinders to households; citizens are advised to rely only on official sources and avoid rumours.

· Citizens are requested to avoid panic bookings, use digital modes for LPG bookings, and refrain from visiting distributorships; home delivery of cylinders is being ensured.

· While panic bookings have declined, isolated instances of crowding at distributorships have been reported; consumers are advised not to queue up and await deliveries at home.

· Citizens are encouraged to use alternate fuels such as PNG and electric/induction cooktops, and to adopt energy conservation practices in daily usage.

Maritime Safety and Shipping Operations

Necessary measures have been put in place to safeguard Indian vessels and seafarers operating in the region. As per Ministry:

· The Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways is closely monitoring shipping movements, port operations, safety of Indian seafarers and continuity of maritime trade; all Indian seafarers in the region are safe, with no incidents involving Indian-flagged vessels reported in the past 24 hours.

· A total of 22 Indian-flagged vessels with 611 Indian seafarers remain in the western Persian Gulf region; DG Shipping is monitoring the situation in coordination with ship owners, RPSL agencies and Indian Missions.

· In one incident, an Indian seafarer (Master of Panama-flagged vessel ASP Avana) passed away on 18.03.2026; DG Shipping is coordinating with the Indian Mission in UAE and extending full support to the family.

· The DG Shipping Control Room remains operational 24×7 and has handled 3,670 calls and 6,929 emails since activation (including 120 calls and 181 emails in the past 24 hours); over 534 Indian seafarers have been safely repatriated so far, including 21 in the last 24 hours.

· India’s maritime sector continues to operate smoothly with no congestion reported across ports; the Ministry remains in close coordination with State Maritime Boards and other stakeholders to ensure safety of seafarers and uninterrupted maritime trade and port operations.

Safety of Indian Nationals in the Region

· Indian Missions and Posts remain in touch with the Indian community and continue to extend assistance, along with issuing necessary advisories for their safety and well-being. As informed by Ministry:

• Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi spoke today with President of Iran, Dr. Masoud Pezeshkian, extending Eid and Nowruz greetings; both leaders discussed the West Asia situation, expressed hope for peace and stability, condemned attacks on critical infrastructure impacting global supply chains, reiterated the need to keep shipping lanes open and secure, and appreciated Iran’s support for Indian nationals.

• Prime Minister spoke yesterday with the King of Bahrain, His Majesty King Hamad Bin Isa Al Khalifa, and exchanged Eid al-Fitr greetings; the two sides reviewed the situation in West Asia, strongly denounced attacks on energy and civilian infrastructure impacting global food, fuel and fertilizer security, stressed the need for uninterrupted maritime movement, and acknowledged His Majesty’s continued support for the well-being of the Indian community in Bahrain.

· Ministry of External Affairs is closely monitoring developments in the Gulf and West Asia region, with the safety, security and welfare of the Indian community as the highest priority; a dedicated 24×7 control room remains operational, and coordination is ongoing with State Governments and UTs.

· Indian Missions and Posts across the region are functioning round the clock, operating helplines, issuing advisories, and maintaining close contact with community organisations and local authorities; assistance continues for seafarers, students, stranded nationals and short-term visitors.

· Since 28 February, around 3.3 lakh passengers have returned to India from the region.

· From the UAE, around 90 flights are expected to operate today; flights are also continuing from Saudi Arabia and Oman, while Qatar is operating 8–10 non-scheduled flights with partial reopening of its airspace.

· With airspace closures in Kuwait and Bahrain, alternative arrangements are in place: flights are being operated via Saudi Arabia (including from Dammam and Al Qaisumah airports), and travel of Indian nationals is being facilitated through Saudi Arabia.

· 15 Indian crew members of MT Safesea Vishnu have safely returned to India from Iraq.

· In separate incidents, 6 Indian nationals have lost their lives and 1 remains missing; Missions in the region are coordinating with authorities for search efforts and early repatriation of mortal remains.

New Delhi: Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Science & Technology, Earth Sciences, and MoS PMO, Personnel, Public Grievances, Pensions, Atomic Energy and Space, Dr Jitendra Singh was today conferred the Lifetime Achievement Award in Medicine & Diabetes at the Chennai National Meet for, as the award citation describes, “his outstanding contribution as a distinguished medical professional, author and advocate for advancing Diabetes care and public health”.

This is the second Lifetime Achievement Award for medical excellence conferred on Dr Jitendra Singh, the first one having been conferred in July 2024 at an International Meet held at Chennai.

The award today was conferred at MVCON 2026, organised by M.V. Diabetes Chennai founded in 1954 by Late Prof M. Viswanathan, popularly remembered as one of the founding fathers of Diabetology in India, along with his equally illustrious contemporaries like Prof M.M.S. Ahuja, Prof Sam J P Moses, Prof B.B. Tripathi and Prof V. Seshiah.

Expressing gratitude on receiving the honour, Dr Jitendra Singh said the recognition carries special significance as it commemorates the legacy of Prof. M. Viswanathan, regarded as one of the founding fathers of diabetology and diabetes research in India. He described it as a tribute not only to his own lifelong work but also to the rich tradition of medical excellence shaped by the first generation of post-independence physicians and their contemporary stalwarts, whose guidance combined clinical rigour with a deep sense of compassion for patients.

Recalling his formative years, Dr. Jitendra Singh shared that his years at Stanley Medical College, Chennai, played a defining role in shaping his professional journey. He said that the academic environment and mentorship he received instilled in him a lifelong commitment to learning and patient care.

Dr. Jitendra Singh described early grooming, right mentorship and imbibement of medical ethics as key pillars of a successful medical career and added that, to gain public trust in medical practice, it is equally important for a doctor to be a good human being.

Reflecting on the evolution of medical science, Dr Jitendra Singh noted that he has witnessed the transition from an era when diagnosis relied primarily on clinical examination and patient history to the present landscape of advanced technologies and artificial intelligence, describing it as a uniquely enriching experience of being a witness to an amazing transition.

Dr. Jitendra Singh is a renowned diabetologist, academician and public representative with decades of experience in Medicine and Diabetes. A Professor of Medicine and Endocrinology by training, he has contributed extensively to Diabetes research, medical literature, and public health awareness, with over five thousand published articles and several books to his credit. His pioneering work, including research on “Stress Diabetes in Kashmiri Migrants,” has received international recognition. Over the years, he has been associated with leading national and global diabetes bodies and has contributed significantly to medical education and policy.

MVCON 2026 marks the inaugural edition of the annual scientific conference of M.V. Hospital for Diabetes and Prof. M. Viswanathan Diabetes Research Centre (MVDRC), Chennai. The chief organiser of MVCON 2026 is Dr Vijay Vishwanathan, a Diabetologist of national and international repute, whose work on ‘Diabetes Foot Disease’ is widely cited and acclaimed.

The conference is witnessing participation of over 700 delegates, including leading experts from across India and international faculty. The scientific programme includes hands-on workshops, clinical discussions, panel interactions,and research presentations, with a special focus on diabetic foot disease and evidence-based approaches for reducing complications and improving patient outcomes.

M.V. Hospital for Diabetes, established in 1954 by Prof. M. Viswanathan, has built a legacy of over seven decades in clinical care, education, and research. The institution has developed a comprehensive, multidisciplinary diabetic foot care programme and has successfully helped prevent more than one lakh lower limb amputations through early detection, advanced treatment, and sustained rehabilitation.

Prof. M. Viswanathan Diabetes Research Centre, established in 1972, continues to contribute to advancing scientific understanding of diabetes and has been recognised by leading national institutions including ICMR and the Department of Science and Technology. Its research has also gained international visibility, with scientists associated with the institution featured among the world’s top researchers.

New Delhi: Union Minister of State for Power and New & Renewable Energy, Shri Shripad Yesso Naik, chaired the 6^thmeeting with Group of Ministers constituted for addressing the issues related to viability of electricity distribution utilities at Bharat Electricity Summit 2026 in New Delhi today.

Shri A. K. Sharma, Energy Minister, Uttar Pradesh, Shri Pradyuman Singh Tomar, Energy Minister, Madhya Pradesh, Shri Hiralal Nagar, Minster of State for Energy, Rajasthan and Smt. Meghana Bordikar, Minister of State for Energy attended the meeting. The meeting was also attended by senior officials from Central Government, State Governments, State Power Utilities of Member States and Power Finance Corporation (PFC) Ltd.

CMD, PFC Limited, GoI, in her welcome address welcomed all the dignitaries. She mentioned that DISCOM face deep-rooted, long‑term risks from persistent structural, financial, and operational inefficiencies that undermine sustainable, quality supply. Progress has been tangible in select areas, yet entrenched structural weaknesses continue to cast a long shadow over sustainable outcomes. Generation and transmission can perform at their peak only when the distribution segment is financially robust and operationally sound. Past schemes delivered episodic gains rather than sustained turnaround, and only truly creditworthy DISCOMs can unlock the long-term investment the power sector needs.

Shri Naik in his opening address welcomed Energy Ministers from the member States. He mentioned that for the first time, India’s power distribution utilities have turned a sector-wide profit, underpinned by reductions in AT&C losses and the ACS-ARR gap. He mentioned that the gains achieved so far are notable, yet they remain fragile in nature and unevenly distributed across utilities and regions. Despite recent improvements, roughly half of distribution utilities remain loss-making, leaving the sector saddled with heavy debt and sizeable, recurrent accumulated losses. The recent gains show that we are finally on the right path, but they also underline that we are still far from where a truly healthy power sector needs to be.

The Minister highlighted that non-cost reflective tariffs, compounded by delays in subsidy release, push DISCOMs into a cycle of expensive short-term borrowing to simply keep operations afloat. Further, distorted cross-subsidies are propelling industrial and commercial consumers to migrate to open access, eroding the very revenue base DISCOMs rely on. These trends are flashing a clear warning: continued unavailability is already feeding into deteriorating service quality and a vicious cycle of decline.

Shri Naik said that reforms must rest on three pillars to secure a truly viable power sector. The first pillar is regulatory discipline: timely and cost-reflective tariffs with automatic FPPCA pass-through and a clear glide path to sharply reduced cross-subsidies. The second pillar is decisive Government action: comprehensive restructuring of DISCOM debt coupled with truly professional, arm’s-length management of distribution utilities. The third pillar is utility-led excellence: relentless operational efficiency driven by smart metering, digitalisation, and data-backed loss reduction across the network. He emphasized that the financial viability is not optional but foundational to the power sector, without which India’s energy transition and the vision of Viksit Bharat will be very difficult materialise. Minister urged States to demonstrate strong, time-bound commitment to these reforms, making distribution sector viability a shared national mission rather than a Central scheme alone.

Joint Secretary (Distribution), Ministry of Power, GoI in his presentation highlighted the current financial position of State DISCOMs and key issues affecting their financial viability. The presentation also highlighted the recommendations of the 16^th Finance Commission report to improve the viability of distribution sector. Findings of the GoM during course of its previous 5 meetings and its recommendations were discussed in detail.

During the meeting it was deliberated that States broadly endorse the Group of Ministers’ recommendations, signalling a shared willingness to move forward on the next wave of power sector reforms. States requested central Government to bring mandate for cost-reflective tariffs or via clear policy rules that bind Regulators, can be firmly steered toward timely, cost-based pricing. It was agreed that chronic DISCOM inefficiencies impose a steep annual drag on the economy, with cumulative losses running into multiple lakh crore rupees over recent years. The States explicitly requested for central support for debt restructuring of DISCOMs which should be reform linked. The States further requested for a follow-up meeting on clear action points for every stakeholder and issue time-bound directions to drive implementation on the ground.

In his closing remarks, Shri Naik  conveyed his sincere appreciation to all Ministers from member States and officials from Central and State Governments for their wholehearted engagement and invaluable contributions to the work of the Group. He mentioned that over the past year, the Group has worked with a deep sense of purpose and that its recommendations would substantially shape the core provisions on distribution sector reforms. He urged States to undertake the reform forward especially on structural improvements in the distribution segment so that the States represented in the GoM move from being a major part of the challenge to leading the solution.

The Group of Ministers reiterated their commitment, to take necessary measures for improving the financial viability of distribution utilities.