New Delhi: The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, laid the foundation stone and inaugurated multiple development projects in Silchar, Assam, today. Addressing the gathering,  PM Modi stated that visiting the Barak Valley, a land defined by its culture and vibrancy, is always a deeply special experience for him. The Prime Minister remarked that Silchar serves as the gateway to this valley, where history and language have merged to create a unique regional identity. Shri Modi noted that the region’s strength lies in its diversity, where Bengali, Assamese, and tribal traditions flourish together in harmony. “The diversity of the Barak Valley is its greatest asset, fostering a spirit of brotherhood among its citizens” affirmed Shri Modi.

The Prime Minister observed that the fertile plains and tea gardens of the region have long been the backbone of its local economy and trade routes. PM Modi stated that today’s inauguration of projects worth thousands of crores will further empower the Barak Valley as a logistics hub for the entire North East. Shri Modi noted that these initiatives in rail, road, and education are designed to create vast employment opportunities for the local youth. The Prime Minister pointed out that the region is now being positioned to connect not just the state, but the neighboring regions of West Bengal and the North East. “Barak Valley is going to become a major logistics and trade hub for the North East,” remarked Shri Modi.

The Prime Minister remarked that the current government is making the region the centerpiece of India’s Act East Policy. PM Modi noted that the current administration is working to restore its industrial glory. The Prime Minister observed that a historic milestone was reached today with the ground-breaking ceremony for the ₹24,000 crore Shillong-Silchar High-Speed Corridor. He stated that this Access Controlled Corridor is the first of its kind in the North East and ends a decades-old wait for the people. Shri Modi noted that this corridor will link Silchar to Mizoram, Manipur, and Tripura, and eventually to the vast markets of South-East Asia. The Prime Minister pointed out that this connectivity will provide an immense boost to local industry, agriculture, and tourism. “Barak Valley is going to be connected to a very bright future,” affirmed Shri Modi.

The Prime Minister stated that the new Silchar flyover will provide much-needed relief from the traffic congestion that has long troubled the city’s residents , this infrastructure is a major boon for students at Silchar Medical College, NIT, and Assam University, saving their precious time. Noting that the electrification of over 2,500 kilometers of Assam’s rail network will ensure faster travel, Shri Modi observed. “High-speed, clean rail transport will significantly benefit the pristine environment of the Barak Valley”.

The Prime Minister said that the tea garden workers and farmers of the valley have contributed immensely in  Assam’s development. He said that so far more than ₹20,000 crore under the PM-Kisan Samman Nidhi has been transferred to the farmers of Assam. Shri Modi further noted that just yesterday, thousands of farmers in the Barak Valley also received money in their bank accounts. The Prime Minister added that this assistance is helping farmers meet their small but important needs related to agriculture. Shri Modi noted that the establishment of the region’s first Agriculture College at Patharkandi will transform the valley into a hub for agricultural research. The Prime Minister pointed out that this institution will provide the necessary support for local youth to launch successful agri-startups. “Barak Valley will now be known for agricultural studies and research,” stated Shri Modi.

Shri Modi stated that the current government follows the mantra of prioritizing those who have been left behind in the race for development. The Prime Minister remarked that while border villages were once considered the “last” villages, his government views them as the “first” villages of the nation. He noted that the Vibrant Village Program, expanded from Cachar district, is already bringing visible improvements to border habitations. The Prime Minister pointed out that the historical neglect of these areas is now being replaced by proactive development and strategic focus. “We consider the border villages as the first villages of the country,” affirmed the Prime Minister.

The Prime Minister observed that the Assam government has performed a historical duty by granting land rights to thousands of tea garden families.Stating that providing these land titles is a major step toward changing the future of generations who served for two centuries, Shri Modi noted that this legal security ensures a life of dignity “These land rights will now allow families to access central schemes like permanent housing, electricity, and water”.

The Prime Minister stated that the government has also focused on providing schools, scholarships, and job opportunities specifically for the youth of the tea gardens. PM Modi remarked that these efforts are opening doors to a golden future for the children of workers who were previously neglected. He said that education, skill development, and health have become the primary pillars of the current government’s regional strategy. The Prime Minister pointed out that Assam is rapidly emerging as a health hub, with AIIMS and cancer hospitals now forming a strong network. “The doors of a golden future are opening for the youth of the tea gardens,” noted Shri Modi.

The Prime Minister observed that while the youth of Assam now have an open sky of opportunities in the semiconductor and tech sectors, the current era of peace and progress has been achieved through immense sacrifices and must be protected from regressive forces. The Prime Minister pointed out that a befitting reply must be given to any force trying to push the state back into its troubled past. “Assam is now becoming an important part of India’s semiconductor sector. The ecosystem and talent related to next-generation technology are getting ready here,” affirmed Shri Modi.

The Prime Minister observed that during global crises and wars, the current government is working with full strength to minimize the impact on Indian citizens. Shri Modi noted that the region’s journey on the path of progress is now unstoppable, supported by its rich language and culture. PM Modi remarked that the development projects inaugurated today are just the beginning of a new era for the valley. The Prime Minister observed that the collective resolve of the people will ensure a bright and prosperous future for the entire state. “The day is not far when Barak Valley will be recognized as a new center of development,” concluded Shri Modi.

Vinod Bhat

New Delhi: Operation Epic Fury has had an impact of epic proportions on world energy prices, sending crude oil prices skyrocketing to $120 per barrel just a few days ago. Since then, prices have remained volatile, keeping the entire energy market on edge. At the centre of global concern lies the Strait of Hormuz, the world’s most critical chokepoint, through which nearly one-fifth of global crude oil passes. The Strait of Hormuz matters significantly for India’s energy supplies, but things currently look manageable. Over the last 11 years, India has actively diversified the sources of its energy imports. India has also worked to change the mix of its energy sources, strongly pushing domestically generated renewable energy.

Imagine if this crisis had hit India a decade ago. With almost all our oil and gas coming from the same volatile region and no real alternatives in place, the impact would have been devastating. Petrol and diesel prices would have shot up overnight crippling transport and pushing inflation through the roof. India has relative remain insulated to the churn caused by the crisis.  In comparison, other countries are struggling significantly. Japan, already burdened by record-high public debt, has become one of the most vulnerable economies. The gas-reliant UK has seen immediate price spikes leading to renewed inflation. Nations like Egypt and Turkey are confronting fresh inflationary pressures. Singapore is dealing with sharp increases in electricity and petrol costs, while South Korea has resorted to imposing a fuel price cap for the first time in nearly three decades to stabilize its economy amid the oil surge.

The current crisis therefore offers an important reminder; India’s relative resilience today is not accidental. It is the result of deliberate policy choices made over the past decade under Prime Minister Narendra Modi to diversify energy sources and strengthen domestic capacity.

In today’s interconnected world, no country can be fully self-sufficient in energy. Even advanced economies rely on global supply chains for fuel, technology and critical minerals. The real challenge is not eliminating dependence altogether, but ensuring that a single disruption does not cripple the entire system.

Over the past decade, India has steadily moved in that direction. Through a strategy of multi-alignment diplomacy, the country has expanded its crude sourcing network from 27 countries to over 40,[1] reducing reliance on any single supplier or region. In the event of supply disruptions in one part of the world, this broader network provides India with greater flexibility to adjust. Thus not putting all eggs in same basket has helped us sail through.

At the same time, India has accelerated the expansion of its domestic energy capacity. The country’s total installed electricity capacity has more than doubled in past 11 years and now crossed 520 GW, with more than half coming from non-fossil fuel sources including renewable energy, hydro and nuclear power.[2] Without this rapid expansion of clean energy, India would today be far more dependent on imported fuels to meet rising electricity demand.

One of the other most visible examples of this shift is the PM Surya Ghar Muft Bijli Yojana, which aims to install rooftop solar panels in one crore households. This has enabling families to generate their own electricity, promoted decentralised energy production and reduces pressure on conventional power sources.[3]

Beyond lowering household electricity bills, the programme carries significant long-term economic and environmental benefits. The initiative is expected to save the government nearly ₹75,000 crore annually in electricity costs,[4] highlighting how clean energy expansion can simultaneously strengthen fiscal efficiency and sustainability.

Without such decentralised solar expansion, rising electricity demand would have placed greater pressure on fossil-fuel-based power generation, increasing fuel imports and making India far more vulnerable to global energy disruptions like those unfolding today.

Such initiatives have also begun to influence household energy behaviour. As rooftop solar expands and electricity becomes cheaper, families may increasingly rely on electric appliances for cooking and other daily needs. Over time, this shift could reduce India’s dependence on imported LPG as well.

Alongside renewable electricity generation, India is also transforming its mobility sector through EV. This shift is strategically important because the transport sector accounts for a significant share of India’s oil consumption, meaning that electrifying mobility can gradually reduce long-term crude oil demand. Reflecting this transition, India’s EV sector has expanded rapidly from just 2,600 electric vehicles in 2014 to 16.71 lakh EV sales in 2025, signalling the growing adoption of clean mobility.[5]

Government policies have played a crucial role in this transition. The FAME-I scheme (2015) supported around 2.78 lakh EVs, saving nearly 50 million litres of fuel.[6]

As EV adoption grows, its impact goes beyond cleaner transport. Over time, greater electric mobility will reduce India’s dependence on imported oil, making the country less vulnerable to global disruptions like those currently unfolding in the Middle East. If the rapid expansion of electric vehicles had not taken place over the past decade, India would have been at tight spot. India would be even more dependent on petrol and diesel for transportation, exposing the economy to sharper fuel price spikes and a much larger import bill at a time when global energy markets are already under severe stress.

The integration of renewable energy with electric mobility creates a powerful multiplier effect. Electric vehicles already have significantly lower operating costs than petrol or diesel vehicles. When EVs are charged using solar power generated at home, transportation becomes not only cleaner but also significantly cheaper. The broader impact is both economic and strategic. Lower fuel imports not only improve air quality and mobility but also shield the economy from external oil shocks like those currently unfolding in global energy markets.

India has also strengthened its Strategic Petroleum Reserve (SPR) capacity over the past decade to prepare for supply disruptions during geopolitical crises. Under PM Modi, India expanded its emergency oil storage infrastructure with strategic reserves at Visakhapatnam, Mangaluru, and Padur, while initiating additional facilities at Chandikhol and Padur Phase-II. As a result, India today has oil reserves that can sustain the country for around 74 days when strategic reserves are combined with commercial inventories.[7] A decade ago, however, India’s emergency crude reserves could cover barely 13 days of demand,[8] leaving the economy far more exposed to sudden import shocks. The expansion of strategic reserves has therefore placed India in a significantly stronger position to manage supply disruptions and price volatility during crises like the one currently unfolding in global energy markets.

In a world where geopolitical tensions can disrupt global energy supply chains overnight, true resilience is not something built during a crisis. It must be forged years in advance through foresight, strategic planning, and decisive action. India’s decade-long push for energy diversification under PM Modi, including diversifying import sources and routes, building strong long-term global partnerships, making massive investments in domestic infrastructure, and accelerating the shift to renewables, is now clearly proving its value. As the Hormuz crisis reveals vulnerabilities across the globe, India’s preparations have significantly softened the impact compared to many other nations. This moment underscores why proactive self-reliance in energy is more critical than ever. In an unpredictable world, such forward-thinking strategies remain the strongest defence against sudden economic shocks.