The government on Saturday outlined a sweeping set of measures to safeguard fuel supplies, expand gas access and support Indian nationals abroad, as it stepped up preparedness in view of the evolving situation in West Asia.
Amid concerns over disruptions linked to the closure of the Strait of Hormuz, authorities said India’s energy supply chain remains stable, backed by high refinery output, adequate inventories and calibrated demand management. According to ET reports, small 5 kg free trade LPG (FTL) cylinders have emerged as a key relief measure, with over 71,000 small LPG cylinders sold in a day Small 5 kg free trade LPG (FTL) cylinders have emerged as a key relief measure, with over 71,000 units sold in a single day and about 5.7 lakh distributed since March 23, according to an official update. These cylinders are available at LPG distributorships on valid ID without requiring address proof.
The government has also intensified enforcement against hoarding and black marketing, conducting more than 3,700 raids in a single day. Public sector oil marketing companies (OMCs) have issued around 1,000 show-cause notices to distributors so far, with 27 distributorships suspended.
To ensure steady supply, the Centre has capped commercial LPG allocation at 70% of pre-crisis levels, while prioritising domestic consumption and essential services such as hospitals and educational institutions.
“ 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,” the statement said.
Authorities have also urged citizens to rely on official information and conserve energy, while encouraging a shift to alternate fuels such as piped natural gas (PNG), induction and electric cooking solutions.
PNG expansion has gathered pace, with more than 3.5 lakh new connections gasified since March 2026 and over 3.8 lakh additional customers registered. City gas distribution companies have been directed to prioritise connections for commercial establishments like restaurants and hotels.
In the industrial sector, gas supplies are being ramped up. Fertiliser plants, currently receiving 70–75% of their six-month average consumption, will see supplies increase to about 90% from April 6. Supply to other industrial and commercial consumers is also set to rise by an additional 10%.
Domestic LPG supply remains under pressure due to geopolitical developments, but there have been no reported dry outs at distributorships. Around 51 lakh domestic LPG cylinders were delivered in a day, with online bookings rising to 95% and delivery authentication compliance increasing sharply to 89%.
On the crude and refining front, all refineries are operating at high capacity with adequate inventories, while domestic LPG production has been stepped up to meet demand.
To shield consumers from surging global crude prices, the government has cut excise duties on petrol and diesel by Rs 10 per litre. It has also imposed export levies of Rs 21.5 per litre on diesel and Rs 29.5 per litre on aviation turbine fuel (ATF) to ensure adequate domestic availability.
Maritime operations remain stable, with LPG vessel Green Sanvi safely transiting the Strait of Hormuz carrying 46,650 metric tonnes of cargo. A total of 17 Indian-flagged vessels with 460 Indian seafarers remain in the western Persian Gulf region under close monitoring.
