On Wednesday, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh presided over the third session of the Informal Group of Ministers (IGoM), where participants were updated on the recent decline in energy prices following a ceasefire agreement between Iran and the United States, which came after a prolonged period of tension in the West Asia region.
A statement released by the Ministry of Defence later that day noted that the IGoM, established to assess India’s preparedness in light of the latest developments in West Asia, received information regarding the continuous monitoring of essential sectoral indicators. The Ministers were assured that necessary actions would be implemented as required. Additionally, it was highlighted that India had successfully evacuated more vessels than any other nation from the Strait of Hormuz over the past 40 days.
Singh emphasized the importance of ongoing preparedness, coordination, and resilience across all departments to effectively manage any potential crises.
In a post on X, he reaffirmed the government’s commitment to ensuring the availability of essential resources, including LPG, petrol, diesel, and fertilizers for agricultural producers, while also facilitating the supply of crucial goods nationwide.
The statement indicated that during the last 40 days, eight LPG vessels, transporting around 340 metric tons—approximately equivalent to 11 days of India’s import needs—successfully navigated the Strait of Hormuz, thereby bolstering the nation’s energy security and supply stability. It further noted that there have been no reported shortages at LPG distribution centers, and the delivery of domestic LPG cylinders has continued uninterrupted across the country.
The meeting also addressed several initiatives, including plans to double the supply of 5kg Free Trade LPG cylinders beyond the previously designated 20% allocation for priority sectors. Furthermore, the provision of auto LPG to support public transport was discussed, along with the supply challenges faced by private operators in procuring resources.
Promotion of Piped Natural Gas (PNG) was another topic of discussion, with an emphasis on adding 316,000 new connections.
Additional topics included maintaining adequate buffer stocks of rice and wheat to ensure sufficient supply for the Public Distribution System (PDS) and to meet any emergency needs. The statement mentioned that measures are being implemented to diversify packaging sources and develop contingency plans to counter any shortages.
The IGoM was informed that the domestic supply of edible oils remains stable despite global market fluctuations, with steady imports from key partners such as Indonesia, Malaysia, Argentina, and Brazil. It was also noted that sufficient sugar buffer stocks are available.
The statement concluded by mentioning that the Department of Consumer Affairs is actively monitoring daily prices of 40 food items reported from 578 locations nationwide.
Amrita Nayak Dutta, a journalist specializing in defense and national security, contributes to The Indian Express’s national bureau. With over 14 years of experience covering various sectors, including media and government policies, she has reported extensively from across India, including remote border regions, and has produced in-depth investigative pieces on media and defense. Dutta has been with The Indian Express since January 2023.
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