The Centre on Monday said that fuel supplies across the country remain stable despite the evolving crisis in West Asia, with more than 1.72 crore LPG cylinders delivered in the last four days and over 3,217 Indian seafarers safely repatriated from the Gulf region so far.
At an inter-ministerial media briefing held at the National Media Centre in New Delhi, officials from the Ministries of Petroleum and Natural Gas, Ports, Shipping and Waterways, External Affairs, and Chemicals and Fertilizers outlined measures being taken to maintain energy security, ensure maritime safety, and protect Indian nationals in the region.
The Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas said online LPG cylinder bookings rose to nearly 99 per cent on an industry basis on Saturday, while Delivery Authentication Code (DAC)-based deliveries increased to around 95 per cent to prevent diversion and black marketing. Authorities also informed that around 1.90 lakh 5-kg Free Trade LPG cylinders were sold during the last four days to support migrant workers and vulnerable groups.
The Ministry urged citizens to avoid panic buying of petrol, diesel and LPG, stressing that adequate stocks are available across the country. All retail fuel outlets and refineries are operating normally, while domestic LPG production has been increased to support household consumption.
To shield consumers from rising crude oil prices triggered by the Middle East conflict, the government has reduced excise duties on petrol and diesel by Rs 10 per litre. Export levies on diesel and aviation turbine fuel (ATF) were also reduced, while an export duty of Rs 3 per litre was imposed on petrol.
The Ministry said 100 per cent supply is being maintained for domestic LPG, PNG and CNG transport sectors. Commercial LPG allocation has been raised to nearly 70 per cent of pre-crisis levels, with priority being given to hospitals, educational institutions, pharmaceuticals, steel, automobile, seed and agriculture sectors.
The government also intensified enforcement against hoarding and black marketing. More than 6,950 raids were conducted across the country in the last four days, while surprise inspections were carried out at around 2,800 petrol pumps and LPG distributorships. Penalties were imposed on 428 LPG distributors and 80 distributorships were suspended.
On the natural gas front, the Centre said more than 7.37 lakh PNG connections have been activated since March 2026, while infrastructure for an additional 2.76 lakh connections has been created. Over 7.76 lakh customers have also registered for new PNG connections. More than 58,100 consumers have surrendered LPG connections in favour of PNG through the MYPNGD.in portal.
The government said the National PNG Drive 2.0 has been extended till June 30 to accelerate PNG adoption and reduce dependence on LPG. States and Union Territories have also been encouraged to expand city gas distribution networks and promote cleaner fuels.
On fertilizer availability, the government maintained that the overall stock position in the country remains comfortable ahead of the Kharif season. Against the estimated requirement of 390.54 lakh metric tonnes (LMT), current stocks stand at around 200.98 LMT, accounting for more than 51 per cent of projected demand.
The Centre confirmed that there will be no change in the Maximum Retail Price (MRP) of major fertilizers. India has also secured approximately 13.5 LMT of DAP and 7 LMT of NPK fertilizers from outside the Strait of Hormuz for arrival at Indian ports during May and June.
Indian fertilizer companies have floated global tenders for procurement of TSP, ammonium sulphate, ammonia and sulphur to ensure uninterrupted availability during the peak agricultural season.
Providing an update on maritime operations, the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways (MoPSW) said all Indian seafarers in the Gulf region are currently safe and no incident involving Indian-flagged vessels or Indian crew members has been reported in the last 96 hours.
The Directorate General of Shipping has so far facilitated the safe return of more than 3,217 Indian seafarers, including 61 repatriated during the last four days. Officials said port operations across India remain normal without congestion.
The Marshall Islands-flagged LPG carrier SYMI, carrying nearly 19,965 metric tonnes of LPG cargo for India, safely crossed the Strait of Hormuz on May 13 and berthed at Kandla port on May 16, where the cargo has since been fully discharged.
The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said Indian missions across the Gulf and West Asia continue to operate round-the-clock helplines and are coordinating closely with local authorities to ensure the safety and welfare of Indian nationals.
The MEA said the overall flight situation from the region is improving, with additional flights operating from the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Oman, Qatar, Kuwait and Bahrain to various Indian destinations. While Iran’s airspace remains partially open, the Indian Embassy in Tehran has already facilitated the evacuation of 2,551 Indian nationals through land border routes.
Officials reiterated that the government is closely monitoring the evolving situation in West Asia and remains committed to ensuring uninterrupted fuel supply, fertilizer availability, maritime operations, and the safety of Indian citizens abroad.
