New Delhi, April 15, KNT: The Government of India on Wednesday said fuel supplies across the country remain stable despite disruptions linked to the ongoing West Asia crisis, while outlining a series of measures to maintain energy security, support industry, and assist Indian nationals in the region.
At a briefing held at the National Media Centre, officials from multiple ministries said there is no shortage of petrol, diesel, or LPG, and advised citizens to avoid panic buying. Authorities said retail outlets are functioning normally and domestic LPG deliveries are continuing without disruption.
Officials said excise duty on petrol and diesel has been reduced by ₹10 per litre to cushion consumers from rising crude prices, while export duties on diesel and aviation turbine fuel have been increased to ensure domestic availability.
The government said it has prioritized LPG supply for households and key sectors such as hospitals and agriculture, while expanding the availability of alternative fuels including PNG, kerosene, and coal to ease pressure on demand. States have been directed to monitor supply and act against hoarding and black marketing.
On enforcement, officials said more than 2,100 raids were conducted on April 14, leading to seizure of around 450 LPG cylinders, while penalties and suspensions were imposed on several distributors.
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The Ministry of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises said the MSME sector continues to show resilience, with over 20 lakh new registrations recorded in February–March, taking the total to more than 8 crore enterprises. Outstanding credit to MSMEs has crossed ₹36.7 lakh crore, reflecting improved access to finance.
Officials added that the collateral-free loan limit for micro and small enterprises has been doubled to ₹20 lakh, while invoice discounting through the TReDS platform has seen sharp growth, indicating wider adoption of digital financing mechanisms.
On maritime operations, the government said all Indian seafarers in the Gulf region are safe, with no incidents reported involving Indian-flagged vessels in the past 24 hours. Over 2,300 seafarers have been repatriated so far, officials said.
The Ministry of External Affairs said India continues diplomatic engagement to ensure energy supply stability and the safety of its nationals, with evacuation and travel facilitation efforts ongoing across multiple countries in the region.
Authorities said control rooms remain operational, advisories are being issued regularly, and coordination with states and international partners is ongoing to manage the evolving situation. [KNT]
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