India has intensified evacuation efforts, secured fuel supplies and expanded contingency measures as tensions in West Asia continue to disrupt regional stability and raise concerns over energy security.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi informed the Rajya Sabha that the government has prioritised the safety of Indian citizens, with more than 3.75 lakh people repatriated from conflict-affected regions. The figure includes over 700 medical students from Iran. Authorities have arranged assistance and medical care for affected families as part of the ongoing response.
At the diplomatic level, the Prime Minister has held two rounds of discussions with leaders across West Asia, while India remains in continuous contact with Gulf countries, Iran, Israel and the United States. These engagements have focused on de-escalation and restoring normalcy, including reopening of the Strait of Hormuz, a critical global energy corridor.
The government has also reiterated its position against attacks on civilians and key infrastructure, including energy and transport systems, and has called for a peaceful resolution to the conflict.
On the domestic front, officials have maintained that fuel supplies remain stable. All Indian refineries are operating at high capacity with adequate crude inventories. Domestic LPG production has increased, and petrol and diesel stocks are sufficient. Authorities have attributed instances of panic buying in certain areas to misinformation, which has been publicly refuted.
Supply continuity measures include securing shipments of crude oil and LPG from multiple countries and preparing contingency plans to ensure uninterrupted availability. India has expanded its energy import base from 27 to 41 countries, while strategic petroleum reserves have crossed 53 lakh tonnes, with plans underway to raise capacity to 65 lakh tonnes.
The government has also increased focus on alternative distribution systems, promoting piped natural gas alongside LPG and enhancing domestic LPG production. In parallel, efforts to reduce dependence on foreign shipping have led to the launch of a Rs 70,000-crore shipbuilding mission aimed at strengthening domestic shipbuilding, maintenance and ship-breaking capacity. Similar initiatives are underway in the defence sector to boost domestic manufacturing.
Authorities have assured that fertiliser supplies remain adequate and that farmers will be shielded from the impact of the crisis. States have been directed to continue welfare schemes such as the PM Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana and to act against hoarding and black marketing.
To maintain supply chains, commercial LPG allocations have been restored to 20 percent and subsequently increased, with overall supply to states and Union Territories reaching up to 50 percent. Priority sectors continue to receive full domestic PNG and CNG supply, while industrial and commercial users are receiving around 80 percent of normal consumption levels. Over 7,500 PNG connections were activated in a single day.
Enforcement actions have intensified, with states empowered under the Essential Commodities Act and LPG Control Order. Control rooms have been set up across 32 states and Union Territories, while district monitoring committees are operational in 33. Agencies have conducted around 3,400 raids, seized nearly 1,000 cylinders, registered 642 FIRs and arrested 155 individuals. Public sector oil companies have carried out more than 1,500 inspections.
Maritime operations remain stable, with all Indian seafarers in the Persian Gulf reported safe and no incidents involving Indian-flagged vessels. Two LPG carriers, Pine Gas and Jag Vasant, have crossed the Strait of Hormuz and are en route to Indian ports. The Directorate General of Shipping is monitoring 20 Indian-flagged vessels carrying around 540 seafarers and has repatriated over 585 personnel.
Air connectivity and evacuation support continue through multiple international routes. Since February 28, about 4.02 lakh passengers have returned to India. Flights remain operational from the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Oman and Qatar, while alternative transit routes through Saudi Arabia, Armenia, Azerbaijan and Jordan are facilitating movement for Indians in Kuwait, Bahrain, Iran and Israel.
With coordinated diplomatic, logistical and enforcement measures in place, the government continues to monitor the situation closely while maintaining supply stability and citizen safety as the crisis evolves.
