New Delhi: The Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas, the Ministry of Ports, Shipping, and Waterways, and the Ministry of External Affairs on Monday said fuel supplies remain stable, and Indian nationals in the Gulf region are safe as the government continues to monitor developments in West Asia following the closure of the Strait of Hormuz.
Officials shared the update during an inter-ministerial media briefing at the National Media Centre on March 16. The government has organised regular briefings on the evolving situation since March 11, according to an official statement.
The Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas said all refineries are operating at high capacity and maintaining adequate crude oil inventories. India remains self-sufficient in petrol and diesel production and does not require imports of these fuels to meet domestic demand. Oil marketing companies reported no fuel dry-outs at retail outlets and said supplies of petrol and diesel continue normally across the country.
Officials advised citizens not to resort to panic buying and assured them that adequate fuel stocks are available.
Priority sectors continue to receive protected natural gas supplies. Authorities are providing 100% supply to PNG and CNG segments, while supplies to industrial and commercial consumers are being regulated at around 80%.
Commercial LPG consumers in major cities and urban areas have been encouraged to shift to piped natural gas connections through authorised City Gas Distribution companies. Hotels, restaurants, hospitals, and hostels can apply for PNG connections through email, customer portals, letters or call centres of CGD companies. Connections are being provided quickly where pipeline networks already exist.
Several CGD companies have announced incentives to promote PNG adoption. Indraprastha Gas Ltd. and GAIL Gas Ltd. are offering free gas worth Rs 500 to domestic consumers. Mahanagar Gas Ltd. has waived registration charges of Rs 500 for domestic PNG consumers and security deposits for commercial consumers. BPCL has waived security deposits for all commercial PNG connections.
The government said the CGD network is being expanded, and the Petroleum and Natural Gas Regulatory Board has advised companies to accelerate deployment of resources and reduce supply timelines.
Officials said LPG supplies continue under close monitoring in view of the geopolitical situation. No LPG distributorship has reported supply shortages. Online LPG bookings have increased from about 84 percent to nearly 90% across the industry.
Coverage of the Delivery Authentication Code system has expanded from 53% before the crisis to around 72% to prevent diversion of cylinders at the distributor level. Several states and union territories, including Bihar, Delhi, Haryana, Rajasthan, Manipur, and Maharashtra, have issued orders to allocate non-domestic LPG according to the Union government guidelines.
State governments and union territories continue to monitor supplies of essential commodities, including petrol, diesel, and LPG. Most states have set up control rooms and are conducting media briefings to keep citizens informed.
Authorities are also taking enforcement action to prevent hoarding and black marketing. Raids have been conducted in several states, including Uttar Pradesh, Haryana, Andhra Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Assam, and Mizoram. Public sector oil marketing companies have carried out surprise inspections at more than 1,100 retail outlets and LPG distributorships to ensure smooth supply.
The government said uninterrupted domestic LPG supply remains its highest priority, particularly for households and essential sectors such as hospitals and educational institutions. Domestic LPG production from refineries has increased by about 36 percent.
Under the amended LPG Control Order issued on 14 March 2026, consumers with PNG connections must surrender domestic LPG connections and cannot obtain new LPG connections. Authorities have revised booking intervals to 25 days in urban areas and up to 45 days in rural areas to ensure equitable distribution.
An additional allocation of 48,000 kilolitres of kerosene has been provided to states and union territories. Authorities have also encouraged the use of alternative fuels such as kerosene and coal to reduce pressure on LPG demand.
Officials urged citizens not to panic and advised consumers to avoid unnecessary LPG bookings. Cylinders can be booked through digital platforms, including IVRS, SMS, WhatsApp, mobile applications of oil marketing companies, and e-commerce platforms. Consumers have also been encouraged to use alternate fuels such as PNG and electric or induction cooktops and to conserve energy.
The Ministry of Ports, Shipping, and Waterways said all Indian seafarers in the Persian Gulf region are safe, and no shipping incident involving them has been reported in the past 24 hours. At present, 22 Indian-flagged vessels with 611 seafarers remain in the western Persian Gulf region.
The Directorate General of Shipping continues to monitor the situation in coordination with ship owners, recruitment agencies, and Indian missions.
Two Indian-flag LPG carriers crossed the Strait of Hormuz on March 14
Since activation of the DG Shipping control room, officials have handled 3,030 phone calls and around 5,497 emails from seafarers, their families and maritime stakeholders seeking assistance. More than 310 calls and 597 emails were received in the past 48 hours.
Authorities have facilitated the safe repatriation of 286 Indian seafarers from the Gulf region so far, including 33 repatriations in the past two days.
Major ports across India are closely monitoring vessel movements and cargo operations while supporting shipping lines and cargo stakeholders. Ports have offered concessions on anchorage, berth hire, and storage charges and are coordinating with customs authorities to facilitate cargo operations.
The Jawaharlal Nehru Port Authority has provided temporary transshipment storage for containers bound for the Middle East. It has also granted a full rebate on ground rent and dwell time charges, and about an 80% rebate on reefer container plug-in charges for up to 15 days.
Officials said no congestion has been reported at any major port. Export-bound containers at JNPA have reduced from around 5,600 to about 3,900. Ports are also providing safe anchorage to loaded vessels bound for the Gulf that are unable to transit.
The Ministry of External Affairs said Indian missions across the region remain in close contact with the Indian community. The government continues to monitor the situation concerning Indian nationals in Iran, where their safety and well-being remain the highest priority.
More than 550 Indian nationals in Iran have crossed into Armenia through the land border with assistance from the Embassy of India in Tehran. Over 90 nationals have crossed into Azerbaijan.
The Embassy of India in Tehran remains fully operational and has relocated Indian students from locations outside the capital to safer areas within Iran.
The government said it remains in contact with companies employing Indian seafarers and members of the fishing community in Iran. Indian nationals have been advised to follow advisories issued by the embassy.
A special MEA control room remains operational to handle queries from Indian nationals and their families. Indian missions across the region continue to operate round-the-clock helplines, maintain contact with community organisations, and issue updated advisories.
Since February 28, around 2,20,000 passengers have returned to India from West Asia and the Gulf region.
Flight operations from Dubai International Airport have begun to resume after a temporary suspension earlier in the day. Limited flights by Indian and UAE carriers are operating from Abu Dhabi, Ras Al Khaimah, and Fujairah. More than 45 flights are scheduled to operate to various destinations in India.
Flights are also operating from airports in Saudi Arabia and Oman to India. Qatar’s airspace remains partially open, and Qatar Airways is expected to operate three flights to India over the next two days.
Airspace in Kuwait has remained closed since 28 February. Special commercial flights by Jazeera Airways are expected to operate from Al Qaisumah International Airport in Saudi Arabia to India. Transit through Saudi Arabia continues for Indian nationals travelling from Bahrain and Iraq, where airspace remains closed.
The government also confirmed that the Embassy of India in Muscat is assisting the families of two Indian nationals who died in an attack in Sohar on March 13. The embassy is coordinating with Omani authorities for the repatriation of the mortal remains and monitoring the condition of injured Indian nationals, none of whom are critically injured.
Officials said the government continues to closely monitor developments in West Asia and maintain coordination among ministries and agencies to ensure preparedness across key sectors while safeguarding national interests.
