New Delhi, May 01: Amid the evolving geopolitical situation in West Asia, the Government of India on Friday said it has ensured stability in key sectors including fuel supply, maritime operations and citizen safety, while stepping up coordinated response measures across ministries.
The government maintained that retail prices of petrol, diesel and domestic LPG cylinders remain unchanged despite global volatility. However, oil marketing companies (OMCs) have undertaken calibrated price revisions for select commercial and industrial products in line with international trends.
According to the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas, there is no shortage of fuel in the country, with all retail outlets functioning normally. Citizens have been advised against panic buying and urged to rely only on official information.
In a significant supply update, around 49.8 lakh domestic LPG cylinders were delivered against bookings of 41.6 lakh, reflecting the government’s push to ensure uninterrupted household supply. Authorities said no “dry-outs” have been reported at LPG distributorships, while online bookings surged to 98 percent.
To manage demand, the government has prioritised LPG supply for households and critical sectors such as hospitals, agriculture and pharmaceuticals. Additional measures include increased refinery output, extended booking intervals and promotion of alternative fuels like PNG, kerosene and electric cooking solutions.
Strict enforcement actions are also underway to curb hoarding and black marketing. Over 2,300 raids were conducted nationwide recently, with penalties imposed on hundreds of LPG distributors and several suspensions ordered.
On the natural gas front, the government reported full supply to domestic PNG and transport CNG segments, alongside accelerated expansion of PNG infrastructure. Since March, over 5.8 lakh new PNG connections have been activated as part of efforts to shift consumers toward cleaner energy.
Providing relief to consumers amid rising crude prices, the Centre has reduced excise duty on petrol and diesel by ₹10 per litre and lowered export levies on diesel and aviation turbine fuel.
Maritime and Shipping Operations Stable
The Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways said maritime operations remain unaffected, with no incidents involving Indian-flagged vessels reported in the past 24 hours.
The DG Shipping control room has handled 8,268 calls and over 17,694 emails since activation, assisting seafarers and their families. So far, more than 2,892 Indian seafarers have been safely repatriated.
Focus on Indian Nationals in West Asia
The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) continues to monitor the situation closely, maintaining round-the-clock helplines and coordinating with Indian missions abroad.
In Iran, the Indian Embassy in Tehran has facilitated the evacuation of 2,490 Indian nationals via land border routes, as authorities advised citizens to avoid travel to the country and encouraged those present to leave using available options.
Flight operations across parts of the Gulf are gradually stabilising, with limited services resuming from countries such as the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Kuwait and Bahrain.
The government reiterated that ensuring the safety of Indian nationals and maintaining energy security remain top priorities as the West Asia situation continues to evolve.
