NEW DELHI: As part of the Government of India’s ongoing efforts to keep citizens informed about developments in West Asia, a media briefing was held on March 30 in New Delhi’s National Media Centre.
During the briefing, officers from the Ministries of Petroleum and Natural Gas, Ports, Shipping and Waterways and External Affairs shared updates on fuel availability, maritime operations, support extended to Indian nationals in the region, and measures being taken to maintain stability across these sectors. An Officer from the Department of Fertilizers, Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilizers also participated in the briefing and provided updates on the steps being undertaken by the Government to ensure adequate availability of fertilizers in the country.
Fertilizer Availability and Supply Measures
An update on the fertilizer situation in the country was shared, outlining the steps being undertaken by the Government to ensure availability and smooth distribution. It was highlighted that:
Prevailing Situation
· The Gulf region remains a key source for fertilizer imports, accounting for 20–30% of Urea and 30% of DAP imports, and also supplies nearly 50% of India’s LNG imports, which is a key feedstock for urea production. Key raw materials and intermediates such as Ammonia, Sulphur and Sulphuric Acid used in domestic production of P&K fertilizers are also impacted.
· The global fertilizer market has witnessed a sharp increase in prices of inputs including LNG, Ammonia and Sulphur, along with higher freight and logistics costs.
· The domestic production of Urea has been impacted due to prevailing situation. The Department of Fertilizers has been taking steps to minimise the impact.
Availability
· The total requirement for the upcoming Kharif 2026 season is estimated at around 390 lakh tonnes, as against actual sales of 361 lakh tonnes during Kharif 2025.
· Adequate stocks are currently available compared to the same period last year.
· Total stock stands at around 180 lakh tonnes, as compared to 147 lakh tonnes last year.
· The months of April and May are lean agricultural periods and are being utilised for stock build-up ahead of the Kharif season.
Domestic Production
· Gas supply to urea plants, initially reduced to around 60%, has been progressively increased to 65% and further augmented to 75–80% through alternative arrangements. This has increased urea production by 12,000–15,000 tonnes per day, reducing the monthly production loss from 9–10 LMT to around 6–7 LMT.
· These measures have ensured continuity of gas supply to urea units while providing time to adopt appropriate strategies.
· Domestic production in March stood at around 18 lakh tonnes for urea and 9–10 lakh tonnes for P&K fertilizers, compared to 24.78 LMT and 11.90 LMT respectively in March 2025.
· DoF has directed to Indian Oil Refineries to supply adequate quantity of Sulphur to fertilizer companies for domestic production.
Import of Fertilizers and Diversified Sourcing
· A dedicated Task Group has been set up to assess global availability, identify supply sources and plan imports to ensure adequate availability of urea.
· A global tender for import of 13.07 lakh tonnes of urea had already been floated in mid-February.
· Supply arrangements include around 28 lakh tonnes from Russia via the Cape of Good Hope route.
· Long-term arrangements have been made for DAP supply from Saudi Arabia (31.10 lakh tonnes annually for five years).
· Additional supplies include 10 lakh tonnes of urea annually from OMIFCO (Oman) and 7 lakh tonnes from SABIC (Saudi Arabia) up to October 2026.
· Efforts are underway to stabilise supplies of key raw materials such as sulphur and LNG.
· Sourcing is being diversified across multiple countries including Russia, Morocco, Australia, Indonesia, Malaysia, Jordan, Canada, Algeria, Egypt, Finland and Togo.
· 16 Indian Missions abroad are coordinating to identify alternative supply sources.
Coordination with States
· States have been sensitized to prevent any panic regarding the availability of fertilizers. Hon’ble Minister for Chemicals and Fertiliser has already spoken to 10 CMs and 12 State Agriculture Ministers on 26th March, 2026 regarding it.
· Chief Secretaries and Agriculture Secretaries have also been sensitised through joint efforts of DA&FW and DoF.
· Strict watch on fertiliser diversion, black-marketing, hoarding etc. under Essential Commodities Act 1955 in coordination with DA&FW GoI and Agriculture Departments of States.
· States are being encouraged to adopt innovative measures to improve distribution efficiency.
· Alternate fertilisers like Ammonium Sulphate (AS), TSP, SSP, FOM/LFOM and NANOs have been put-up in place.
Overall Efforts
· The Department of Fertilizers is closely monitoring global price trends and will take appropriate decisions on nutrient-based subsidy rates for the upcoming Kharif season.
· As on today, adequate stock of all types of fertilizers is available in the country. No major requirement of any fertilizers in the upcoming 2.5 months.
· Fertilizers are being made available to the farmers at the same price as before prevailing situation. DoF is committed to provide adequate quantity of fertilizers as per the demands raised by DA&FW. DoF is working 24×7 for coordinating between all the stakeholder i.e. Indian Fertilizer producers, Indian Fertilizer importers, Ports Authorities, Indian Railways and State Governments etc. to ensure adequate availability of fertilizers in the field. There is no need of any panic
· A contingency war room has been set up for continuous monitoring of fertilizer availability, production, imports and movement. The Government has assured that adequate supplies will be maintained and there is no need for panic among farmers.
Energy Supply and Fuel Availability
The Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas shared an update on the fuel supply situation, outlining measures being taken to ensure uninterrupted availability of petroleum products and LPG in view of the Strait of Hormuz closure. It was noted that:
Crude and Refineries
· All refineries are operating at high capacity with adequate crude inventories, and sufficient stocks of petrol and diesel are being maintained.
· Domestic LPG production from refineries has been increased to support domestic consumption.
Retail Outlets
· All retail outlets are operating normally across the country.
· The Government of India has reduced excise duty on petrol and diesel by Rs. 10 per litre.
· The Government has imposed export levy of Rs. 21.5 per litre on diesel and Rs. 29.5 per litre on aviation turbine fuel (ATF) to ensure availability in the domestic market.
· Instances of panic buying due to rumours have been noticed in certain areas, resulting in unusually high sales and crowding at retail outlets. However, adequate stocks of petrol and diesel are available at all petrol pumps across the country.
· The Government has reiterated its advice to the public not to believe rumours and has requested State Governments to disseminate correct information through press briefings.
Natural Gas
· Priority has been accorded to consumers with 100% supply to domestic PNG and CNG transport.
· Supplies to industrial and commercial consumers connected to the grid are being maintained at around 80% of their average consumption.
· CGD entities have been advised to prioritise PNG connections for commercial establishments such as restaurants, hotels and canteens to address concerns regarding commercial LPG availability.
· CGD companies including IGL, MGL, GAIL Gas and BPCL are offering incentives to promote domestic and commercial PNG connections.
· The Government of India has requested States/UTs and Central Ministries to expedite approvals for CGD network expansion.
· Additional 10% allocation of commercial LPG has been offered to States/UTs to support long-term transition from LPG to PNG, with allocations recommended based on reform measures undertaken by States.
· PNGRB has directed CGD entities to prioritise PNG connections for residential schools, colleges, hostels, community kitchens and Anganwadi kitchens within 5 days where pipelines are available.
· Ministry of Road Transport and Highways has adopted an accelerated approval framework with reduced timelines for CGD infrastructure for a period of 3 months.
· The Government has notified the Natural Gas and Petroleum Products Distribution Order, 2026 to provide a streamlined and time-bound framework for pipeline expansion, facilitating faster growth of natural gas infrastructure and strengthening energy security.
· Ministry of Defence has issued a short-term policy modification to expedite installation of PNG infrastructure in defence residential areas up to June 2026.
· During the month of March, more than 3 lakh PNG connections across domestic and commercial categories have been gasified.
LPG
· LPG supply continues to be affected due to the prevailing geopolitical situation.
· No dry-outs have been reported at LPG distributorships.
· Online LPG bookings have increased to around 95% on industry basis.
· Delivery Authentication Code (DAC) based deliveries have increased from 53% in February 2026 to 82%, helping prevent diversion.
· Most LPG distributorships operated on Sunday to ensure uninterrupted delivery to households.
· Partial commercial LPG supply (20%) had already been restored earlier. Additional allocations have been made, taking total commercial LPG allocation to 50 % and subsequently to 70% of pre-crisis levels, including reform-based allocations.
· The latest additional allocation prioritises industries such as steel, automobile, textile, chemicals and plastics, especially process industries requiring specialised heating.
· More than 2.6 lakh 5 kg FTL cylinders have been sold in the past week, including over 88,000 in the last 2 days for migrant workers.
· Most States/UTs have issued orders for non-domestic LPG allocation, with around 41,503 MT uplifted since 14 March 2026.
Kerosene
· Additional allocation of 48,000 KL of kerosene has been made to all States/UTs over and above regular allocation.
· The Government has notified measures to facilitate distribution of PDS SKO in SKO-free States/UTs through designated PSU OMC service stations with storage limits.
· 17 States/UTs have issued SKO allocation orders, while Himachal Pradesh and Ladakh have indicated no requirement.
Role of State Governments / UTs
· Under the Essential Commodities Act, 1955 and LPG Control Order, 2000, State Governments are empowered to act against hoarding and black marketing and are responsible for monitoring supply of petrol, diesel and LPG.
· All Chief Secretaries, ACS/Principal Secretary/Secretary Food & Civil supply of all the States/UTs are requested –
Ø To institutionalize daily press briefings at State/District level and issue regular public advisories.
Ø To setup dedicated control rooms/helplines
Ø To actively monitor and counter fake news / misinformation on social media.
Ø To intensify daily enforcement drives by District admin and to continue raids and inspections in coordination with OMCs
Ø To issue Commercial LPG allocation orders within their States/UTs
Ø To issue SKO allocation orders for additional SKO allotted to the States/UTs.
Ø To fast track CGD expansion incl. expediting RoW/RoU permissions, 24×7 work permissions etc.
Ø To promote PNG adoptions and alternate fuels.
Ø To nominate senior nodal officers for coordination with MoPNG
- Govt. of India vide letter dated 27.03.2026 has again requested Chief Secretaries of all States/UTs to conduct daily press briefs and active social media/electronics media updates to disseminate correct information and eliminate rumour mongering.
- Currently, 16 States/UTs namely Andhra Pradesh, Bihar, Gujarat, Himachal Pradesh, J&K, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Meghalaya, Nagaland, Odisha, Rajasthan, Telangana, Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Tamil Nadu and Arunachal Pradesh are carrying out press briefs.
Enforcement action
· More than 2,500 raids were conducted across States/UTs in the past 24 hours, with over 2,000 cylinders seized.
· Enforcement efforts need to be strengthened in certain States/UTs including Bihar, Jharkhand, Keralam and some North-Eastern States.
· PSU OMCs officials are also conducting surprise inspections at RO and LPG distributorships on daily basis across the country to ensure smooth supplies and to check any hoardings/black marketing cases.
· PSU OMCs have issued more than 500 show cause notices to LPG distributorships till date.
· All the States/UTs except Delhi has setup control Rooms.
Other Government Measures
· The Government continues to prioritise domestic LPG and PNG supply, with special focus on households, hospitals and educational institutions even during the ongoing crisis.
- Several rationalisation measures have been implemented on both supply and demand side, including enhanced refinery production, increase in LPG booking interval from 21 to 25 days in urban areas and up to 45 days in rural areas, and prioritisation of sectors for supply.
- Alternate fuel options such as kerosene and coal have been offered to ease pressure on LPG demand.
- The Ministry of Coal has issued directions to Coal India and Singareni Collieries to allocate higher quantities of coal to States for distribution to small, medium and other consumers.
- States have been advised to facilitate new PNG connections for both domestic and commercial consumers.
Public Advisory
- The Government is making all efforts to ensure availability of petrol, diesel and LPG, and citizens are advised to avoid panic purchase and unnecessary LPG bookings.
- Citizens are advised to beware of rumours and rely only on official sources for accurate information.
- Consumers are encouraged to use digital platforms for LPG booking and avoid visiting LPG distributors.
- Citizens are encouraged to use alternate fuels such as PNG and electric or induction cooktops.
- All citizens are requested to conserve energy in their daily usage during the current situation.
Maritime Safety and Shipping Operations
The Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways shared an update on the maritime situation in the Persian Gulf, along with measures being undertaken to ensure the safety and security of Indian vessels and crew. It was stated that:
· The Ministry has been closely monitoring the evolving situation in West Asia, particularly with regard to safety of Indian seafarers, vessel movements and port operations.
· All Indian seafarers in the region are safe and no incident involving Indian-flagged vessels has been reported in the past 24 hours. The situation has remained stable over the last 72 hours as well.
· 18 Indian-flagged vessels with around 485 Indian seafarers remain in the western Persian Gulf region, reflecting a reduction from 20 vessels with 540 seafarers over the last 72 hours. The Directorate General of Shipping (DG Shipping) continues close monitoring in coordination with ship owners, RPSL agencies and Indian Missions.
· The DG Shipping Control Room remains operational 24×7 and has handled 4,555 calls and 9,074 emails since activation, including 32 calls and 89 emails in the past 24 hours, and 124 calls and 209 emails over the last 72 hours.
· DG Shipping has facilitated the safe repatriation of over 950 Indian seafarers so far, including 8 in the past 24 hours and 12 over the last 72 hours.
· Two vessels BW TYR and BW ELM carrying LPG cargo of about 94114 MT safely transited Strait of Hormuz on 28 March 2026. BW TYR is carrying 47115 MT LNG and is heading scheduled to arrive Mumbai tomorrow, 31.03.2026 PM and BW ELM is carrying LPG cargo of 46999 MT and is planned to reach New Mangalore on 01.04.2026 PM hours.
· Port operations across India continue to remain normal with no congestion reported in the past 24 hours, and have remained stable over the last 72 hours, as confirmed by State Maritime Boards including Gujarat, Maharashtra, Goa, Keralam, Andhra Pradesh and Puducherry.
· The Ministry continues to coordinate with the Ministry of External Affairs, Indian Missions and maritime stakeholders to ensure safety of Indian seafarers and uninterrupted maritime operations.
Safety of Indian Nationals in the Region
An update on the latest developments in the region, including ongoing assistance through Indian Missions, was also shared by the Ministry of External Affairs. It was informed that:
· The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, spoke with the Crown Prince and Prime Minister of Saudi Arabia, Mohammed bin Salman, on 28th March and discussed the ongoing conflict in West Asia.
· The Prime Minister reiterated India’s condemnation of attacks on regional energy infrastructure.
· Both leaders agreed on the need to ensure freedom of navigation and to keep shipping lines open and secure.
· The Prime Minister expressed appreciation for the continued support extended by Saudi Arabia for the welfare of the Indian community in the country.
It was further informed that:
· The Ministry of External Affairs continues to closely monitor the evolving situation in the Gulf and West Asia region, with the safety, security and welfare of the Indian community remaining the highest priority.
· A dedicated special control room remains operational to assist Indian nationals and their families, with close coordination being maintained with State Governments and Union Territories.
· Indian Missions and Posts across the region are functioning round the clock with 24×7 helplines, issuing regular advisories and maintaining active engagement with Indian community organisations, associations and companies, while remaining in close contact with local governments.
· Missions are proactively assisting Indian nationals by facilitating visas, consular services, transit through neighbouring countries in view of airspace restrictions and providing logistical support, wherever required.
· The welfare of Indian students in the Gulf countries is being accorded high priority, with efforts being made to ensure that their academic year is not impacted.
· Missions are coordinating with local authorities, Indian schools, concerned education boards and the National Testing Agency to address academic concerns.
· CBSE has notified an assessment scheme for declaration of Class X and XII results in the region, while concerns related to ICSE, Kerala Boards, and examinations such as JEE and NEET are being addressed through regular outreach to students and parents.
· Particular attention is being given to Indian seafarers, with Missions maintaining continuous contact with crew members to provide consular assistance, facilitate communication with families and assist in repatriation requests.
· The overall flight situation continues to improve, with around 5,50,000 passengers have returned to India since 28 February.
· In the UAE, airlines continue to operate limited non-scheduled flights based on operational and safety considerations, with around 85 flights expected to operate today to India.
· Flights continue to operate from various airports in Saudi Arabia and Oman to different destinations in India.
· With Qatar airspace partially open, Qatar Airways is expected to operate around 10 flights to India today.
· Kuwait and Bahrain airspaces remain closed. Jazeera Airways and Gulf Air are operating non-scheduled commercial flights from Dammam Airport in Saudi Arabia to various destinations in India.
· Due to airspace restrictions, Indian nationals are being facilitated for travel via alternate routes, including from Iran through Armenia and Azerbaijan, from Israel through Egypt and Jordan, from Iraq through Jordan and Saudi Arabia, and from Kuwait and Bahrain through Saudi Arabia.
· An Indian national lost his life in an attack in Kuwait. The Government has expressed condolences to the family, and the Mission is coordinating with local authorities for early repatriation of mortal remains.
· A total of 8 Indian nationals has lost their lives and 1 remains missing in various incidents, with Missions continuing to coordinate with local authorities and provide assistance to affected families.
*
