Decision follows reports of migrant workers returning back to their homes due to LPG shortages; authorities aim to stabilise supply and streamline distribution through state-run channels
With limited policy space amid a global supply shock, RBI is likely to hold rates, balancing inflation risks with the need to protect growth
State-run refiners defer maintenance and ramp up LPG output as vessels clear Strait of Hormuz, while government tightens supply monitoring amid ongoing West Asia tensions
The Maharashtra government on Monday said there is no shortage of petroleum products in the state amid the West Asia crisis and asked people to avoid panic buying. The state had faced challenges in LPG supply due to dependence on imports from Gulf countries, but the situation is now improving with calibrated policy measures by the Union government, Additional Chief Secretary (Food and Civil Supplies) Anil Diggikar asserted. Addressing a joint press briefing, he said, "Petrol and diesel stocks are adequate in the state. The situation has stabilised. LPG supply to the commercial sector has also been partially restored." Controller of Rationing and Nodal Officer (Crisis Management for Integrated Food Supply) Chandrakant Dange said LPG supply to commercial cylinder distribution was halted initially on the Centre's directives. "Subsequently, phased relaxation was introduced. First, 20 per cent allocation was allowed for essential services such as hospitals, schools, orphanages, ...
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Monday alleged that Prime Minister Narendra Modi has dealt with the "LPG gas crisis" just like it handled the COVID-19 pandemic as it is "devoid of policy, full of grand announcements", and places the "entire burden" upon the poor. The Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha asked why it is always the poor who perish first in every crisis and urged people to not remain silent. "Modi Ji had said: 'We will handle the LPG gas crisis just like we handled COVID. And indeed, that is exactly what he did. Precisely like COVID - devoid of policy, full of grand announcements, and placing the entire burden upon the poor," Gandhi said in a post in Hindi on X. For migrant labourers earning a daily wage of Rs 500-800, cooking gas has become completely unaffordable, he said. A labourer returning home at night does not even have the money to light the stove, he said. "The result? Abandon the city; flee back to the village. The very labourers who serve as the backbone
A third vessel, Jag Vikram, is still in the west of the Strait of Hormuz, according to ship tracking data
Donald Trump sets a deadline on Hormuz access as Iran warns of retaliation while ceasefire talks gather pace. Here are the top developments
7 Indian-flagged ships have crossed the strait so far; number of stranded vessels down to 17 from 28 at start of war
Sale of small 5-kg LPG cylinders - available across-the-counter at LPG distributorships on showing valid ID proofs - has been stepped up, with about 6.6 lakh bottles sold since March 23 as the government ramps up supplies to meet demand. Unlike the subsidised domestic 14.2-kg cylinders, the 5 kg bottles, called FTL cylinders, are priced at market rates and do not require any address proof for procurement from a nearby LPG distributorship. "Yesterday (April 4), more than 90,000, 5Kg FTL cylinders were sold. Since March 23, 2026, about 6.6 lakh, 5 Kg FTL cylinders have been sold," the oil ministry said in a statement. The ministry said there are no reports of shortages at LPG distributor points, with more than 51 lakh domestic cylinders delivered during the day and online bookings accounting for 95 per cent of total demand. Authorities have intensified action against hoarding and black marketing, seizing over 50,000 cylinders since March and issuing more than 1,400 show-cause notices
The Odisha government has made e-KYC mandatory for domestic consumers to avail LPG cylinders from distributors, Food Supply and Consumer Welfare Minister K C Patra said on Sunday. The move will ensure that only genuine customers get LPG cylinders, he asserted. "We have issued instructions to LPG distributors to provide cylinders to consumers who have completed their e-KYC (know your customer)," Patra said. "We have also stopped the illegal sale of 1 kg or 5 kg cooking gas cylinders in the open market," he said. The minister said the Odisha government has taken strong action against those indulging in black marketing of gas cylinders. Authorities have seized 27 LPG cylinders in Dhenkanal district on Sunday, officials said. "Getting information about illegal sale of LPG cylinders, we raided the agency and seized 27 cylinders. Appropriate legal action will be taken," said Bibudha Garanaik, Sub-Collector of Dhenkanal.
Once bustling with tourists, these popular stops are now witnessing a sharp decline in footfall as vendors grapple with cooking delays and limited resources
Chief Minister Rekha Gupta said on Saturday that there is no shortage of domestic or commercial LPG in the national capital and urged Delhiites "not to panic". She exhorted people not to crowd gas agencies and LPG centres. "Avoid visiting LPG godowns. The administration is making efforts to ensure an uninterrupted LPG supply to people. Strict action will be taken against violators," Gupta said. Sharing the latest government data, the chief minister said on April 3, over 1,11,504 bookings were recorded, while three oil marketing companies delivered 1,26,379 cylinders, clearing pending backlogs. The average delivery time for domestic LPG cylinders in Delhi has now been reduced to four days, ensuring timely, reliable doorstep service for consumers, she said. Officials from the Delhi Government's Department of Food, Supplies and Consumer Affairs said supplies have exceeded demand in recent days. The chief minister said the Delhi Police raided 22 locations across the city to bust rack
The Delhi government has tightened norms for the supply of commercial LPG cylinders, making it mandatory for businesses to either have or apply for a piped natural gas (PNG) connection in areas where the network is available, according to an official order. In an order issued by the Food, Supplies and Consumer Affairs Department on April 2, the government amended a key clause of its recently notified policy on distribution of commercial LPG cylinders. Under the revised rules, commercial and industrial consumers will be eligible to receive LPG supplies only if they are registered with the concerned oil marketing company (OMC) and have applied for a PNG connection, wherever the network exists. According to the order, in areas where PNG infrastructure is not yet in place, consumers will be required to submit an application expressing their intent to switch to PNG once it becomes available. Officials said OMCs will be required to verify documents at least once to ensure compliance with
The total value of the seized canisters and some vehicles used by the accused was nearly ₹22 lakh, police said
India-flagged vessel crosses Hormuz as limited traffic resumes in the Gulf waters under Iran's watch, with several Indian ships still awaiting clearance
Rising LPG prices push kiosks and restaurants to selectively hike prices, with smaller players facing sharper pressure amid West Asia fuel disruptions
Govt discusses ramping up induction heater production as LPG supply concerns rise amid West Asia tensions, triggering surge in demand for electric cooking alternatives
Regulator extends PNG drive till June 2026 to accelerate CGD rollout and meet rising demand amid LPG supply concerns and push for cleaner energy adoption
A multi-level strategy involving coordination with the Centre for policy intervention has been rolled out to manage pressure on LPG supply and the broader energy sector, the Delhi government said on Friday. The announcement came at a press conference held by the government's Department of Food, Supplies and Consumer Affairs. Additional Commissioner Arun Kumar Jha said Delhi has around 56 lakh domestic LPG connections, and residents are being urged to ensure that their connections are registered in the correct name to prevent misuse and diversion. Jha said at the same time, the government is pushing for expansion of piped natural gas (PNG). "Wherever PNG connections are available, residents should shift from LPG to PNG," he said, adding that the pipeline network has now reached "every village". A control room has been set up to monitor the situation and receive complaints and inputs. The government earlier urged citizens to report suspicious activities through helpline numbers ...
The government on Friday held discussions on measures to encourage companies to ramp up production of induction heaters and compatible utensils amid rising demand for these products due to concerns over LPG availability following the West Asia crisis, an official said. The crisis has disrupted the movement of ships carrying oil and gas through the Strait of Hormuz, raising concerns over cooking gas supplies and prompting people to rush to buy induction heaters and compatible utensils. The meeting, chaired by Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal, was attended by senior officials, including Power Secretary Pankaj Agarwal, Director General of Foreign Trade (DGFT) Lav Agarwal, and Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT) Secretary Amardeep Singh Bhatia. "We discussed how we can speed up and increase the production of induction heaters and vessels that go on those heaters (utensils like an induction cooker, etc.)," the official said. The demand for these go