Updates on the preparedness and response measures being undertaken by the Government of India in view of the recent developments in West Asia are shared below. These relate to energy supply management, maritime operations, the welfare of Indian nationals in the region and public communication measures.

Energy Supply and Fuel Availability

Steps have been taken to ensure stable availability of petroleum products and LPG across the country. Necessary arrangements are in place to maintain regular supply and distribution. The current position is as follows:

Crude/Refineries

• All refineries are operating at high capacity and maintaining adequate crude oil inventories. Our country remains self-sufficient in the production of petrol and diesel and, no imports of petrol and diesel are required to meet domestic demand.

Retail Outlets

• No cases of fuel dry-outs have been reported at retail outlets by Oil Marketing Companies, and supplies of petrol and diesel continue to be maintained regularly.
• Citizens are advised not to resort to panic buying as adequate stocks of petrol and diesel are available across the country.

Natural Gas

• Priority sectors continue to receive protected gas supplies, including 100% supply to PNG and CNG, while supplies to industrial and commercial consumers are being regulated at about 80%.
• Commercial LPG consumers in major cities and urban areas are encouraged to opt for PNG connections and may apply through email, letter or the customer portal of City Gas Distribution (CGD) companies.
• A meeting was held on 14 March 2026 by senior officials of the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas with PNGRB and CGD entities to review the status of PNG connections and LPG-to-PNG conversion.

LPG

• LPG supply continues to be monitored in view of the prevailing geopolitical situation.
• No reported dry-outs at LPG distributorships.
• LPG bookings have shown a decline, with about 77 lakh bookings recorded yesterday compared to 88.8 lakh bookings on 13 March 2026.
• Online LPG cylinder bookings have increased from 84% to about 87%.
• Several States and UTs including Bihar, Delhi, Haryana and Rajasthan have issued orders for allocation of non-domestic LPG in line with Government guidelines.
• Commercial LPG cylinders have been placed at the disposal of State Governments for priority distribution and are now available to consumers in 30 States and UTs.

Meetings conducted by State Governments

• State Governments and UTs continue to play an important role in monitoring the supply of essential commodities including petrol, diesel and LPG.
• High-level meetings have been conducted in several States and UTs to review LPG supply, ensure continuity of distribution and prevent black marketing and panic booking.
• 22 States and UTs have established control rooms to monitor the situation and several States are also conducting media briefings to keep citizens informed.

Enforcement action

• State Governments are undertaking enforcement measures to prevent hoarding and black marketing of petrol, diesel and LPG.
• Raids are being carried out in several States including Andhra Pradesh and Bihar to check hoarding and black marketing of LPG cylinders.
• Officials of PSU Oil Marketing Companies are also conducting surprise inspections at LPG distributorships to ensure smooth supply and prevent irregularities.

Other Government Measures

• The Government continues to prioritise the interests of domestic consumers and ensure uninterrupted LPG supply, particularly for households and priority sectors such as hospitals and educational institutions.
• Domestic LPG production from refineries has been maximised and several supply and demand-side measures have been implemented.
• An amendment to the LPG Control Order issued on 14 March 2026 requires consumers with PNG connections to surrender their domestic LPG connections and prohibits new LPG connections for PNG consumers.
• Booking intervals have been rationalised to 25 days in urban areas and up to 45 days in rural areas to ensure equitable distribution.
• An additional allocation of 48,000 KL of kerosene has been provided to States and UTs to support alternate fuel needs.
• Alternate fuels such as kerosene and coal have been activated for certain sectors, including hospitality and restaurants, to ease pressure on LPG supplies.
• PSU Oil Marketing Companies are promoting digital bookings, discouraging panic bookings and keeping LPG distributorships open on Sundays to facilitate smooth supply.

Public Advisory

• Citizens are advised not to panic as the Government remains committed to maintaining adequate LPG availability for households and essential sectors.
• LPG cylinders can be booked through multiple digital platforms including IVRS calls, SMS booking, WhatsApp booking and mobile applications of Oil Marketing Companies.
• Consumers are requested to avoid panic bookings, use digital booking platforms and avoid unnecessary visits to LPG distributors.
• Citizens are encouraged to opt for alternate fuels such as PNG wherever possible.
• The Government and PSU Oil Marketing Companies continue to spread awareness regarding uninterrupted LPG deliveries and the recent decline in panic bookings.
• Citizens and media organisations are requested to rely on official information sources and help disseminate accurate information to avoid unnecessary panic.

Maritime Safety and Shipping Operations

Appropriate measures are in place to ensure the safety of Indian vessels and seafarers operating in the region. Coordination with shipping authorities and industry stakeholders is being maintained to support smooth maritime operations.

• All Indian seafarers in the region are safe and no shipping incident involving Indian seafarers has been reported in the past 24 hours.
• On 14 March 2026, while the Indian-flag vessel Jag Laadki was loading crude oil at the Fujairah Single Point Mooring, the Fujairah oil terminal was attacked. The vessel sailed safely from Fujairah at 1030 hrs IST today carrying about 80,800 MT of Murban crude oil and is bound for India. The vessel and all Indian seafarers onboard are safe.
• Two Indian-flag LPG carriers, Shivalik and Nanda Devi, carrying about 92,712 MT of LPG, which had crossed the Strait of Hormuz on 14 March 2026, are currently on passage to India and are scheduled to reach Mundra Port on 16 March and Kandla Port on 17 March respectively.
• At present, 22 Indian-flagged vessels with 611 seafarers remain west of the Persian Gulf region. The Directorate General of Shipping continues to monitor the situation in coordination with ship owners, RPSL agencies and Indian Missions.
• Since the activation of the DG Shipping Control Room, 2,995 phone calls and more than 5,357 emails have been handled from seafarers, their families and maritime stakeholders seeking information and assistance.
• DG Shipping has facilitated the safe repatriation of 276 Indian seafarers from the Gulf region so far, including 23 repatriations in the past 24 hours from airports and regional locations.
• Ports across the country are closely monitoring vessel movements and cargo operations in view of the evolving maritime situation.
• The Ministry continues to coordinate with the Ministry of External Affairs, Indian Missions, shipping companies and maritime stakeholders to ensure the safety and welfare of Indian seafarers while maintaining the continuity of maritime trade and port operations.

Safety of Indian Nationals in the Region

Indian Missions and Posts remain in touch with the Indian community and are providing assistance wherever required. Necessary advisories continue to be issued for the safety and well-being of Indian nationals.

• The Ministry of External Affairs continues to closely monitor the evolving situation in West Asia and the Gulf region. The safety, well-being and security of Indian nationals in the region remain the Government’s highest priority.
• A dedicated MEA control room remains operational to respond to queries from Indian nationals and their families, while coordination is also being maintained with State Governments and Union Territories.
• Indian Missions and Posts across the region are functioning round-the-clock, operating 24×7 helplines, maintaining contact with Indian community organisations and issuing regular advisories.
• Missions remain in touch with local authorities and are extending assistance to stranded Indians and short-term visitors, including visa support, logistical assistance and transit facilitation. Missions are also rendering support to Indian seafarers in the region.
• Since 28 February 2026, around 1,94,000 passengers have returned from the region to India.
• In the UAE, airlines are operating revised and limited flight schedules as per instructions of the UAE civil aviation authorities. Flights are operating from Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Ras Al Khaimah, Sharjah and Fujairah to various destinations in India. Passengers are advised to check with the respective airlines for updated schedules.
• In Saudi Arabia, flights are operating from various airports to different destinations in India.
• Flights are also operating from Oman to different destinations in India.
• Qatar airspace is partially open, with Qatar Airways operating limited flights to India, including one flight to Delhi today.
• For Indian nationals in Bahrain, Kuwait and Iraq, where airspace remains closed, transit through Saudi Arabia is being facilitated.
• In earlier incidents, five Indian nationals have unfortunately lost their lives in the ongoing conflict and one Indian national remains missing. Indian Missions in Oman, Iraq and the UAE remain in contact with the concerned authorities regarding the missing individual and for the early repatriation of the mortal remains of the deceased.

The Government continues to maintain coordination among the concerned Ministries and agencies and is taking necessary steps to ensure preparedness across key sectors and safeguard national interests.

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MN