Govt Claims Good Sales of 5kg LPG Cylinders Even as Black Market for Full Cylinder Hits 4000

Ø  More than 81,000 5 Kg FTL cylinders sold across the country yesterday

Ø  PNG expansion update: 5.27 lakh connections gasified since March; infrastructure ready for 2.60 lakh more, taking total connections to 7.87 lakh; 5.97 lakh new customers registered

Ø  Retail outlets operating normally across the country

Ø  All Indian seafarers in the region safe; no incident involving Indian-flagged vessels reported in past 24 hours

Ø  Port operations across India continue to remain normal, with no congestion reported

Ø  External Affairs Ministry continues to closely monitor developments in Gulf and West Asia; safety and welfare of Indian community remain focus

Ø  Overall flight situation improves; around 12.38 lakh passengers travelled from the region to India since 28 February

1. 5 Kg Free Trade LPG (FTL) Cylinder Sales Continue Strong

·         Over 17.83 lakh 5 Kg FTL cylinders sold since 1 April 2026

·         More than 81,000 cylinders sold in a single day yesterday

·         8,500+ awareness camps held since 3 April; over 1.33 lakh cylinders sold through these drives

2. PNG Expansion Accelerates

·         5.27 lakh PNG connections gasified since March

·         Infrastructure ready for 2.60 lakh additional connections

·         Total PNG network reaches 7.87 lakh connections

·         5.97 lakh new customers registered

3. Fuel Supply Measures and Public Advisory

·         Government says 100% supply maintained for domestic LPG, domestic PNG and transport CNG

·         Citizens advised not to panic buy petrol, diesel or LPG

·         Online LPG bookings reached 98%; DAC-authenticated deliveries at 94%

·         Alternate fuels like kerosene, coal, PNG and electric cooktops being promoted

·         Booking interval increased to 25 days urban / 45 days rural

4. Commercial LPG and Industry Support

·         Commercial LPG allocation restored to 70% of pre-crisis levels

·         Priority supplies for hospitals, pharma, agriculture, steel and automobiles

·         April commercial LPG sales (till 23 April): 1.47 lakh MT (equivalent to 77.5 lakh 19-kg cylinders)

·         Additional LPG pool and propylene supplies provided for chemical and pharma sectors

5. Strong Enforcement Against Hoarding

·         2,300+ raids conducted yesterday

·         Penalties imposed on 307 LPG distributorships

·         70 distributorships suspended

·         States/UTs operating control rooms and district monitoring committees

6. Retail Fuel and Refinery Operations Stable

·         Retail outlets operating normally nationwide

·         No reported fuel shortages or dry-outs

·         Refineries running at high capacity with adequate crude stocks

·         Petrol and diesel prices unchanged at PSU outlets

·         Government cut excise duty by ₹10/litre to cushion crude price spike

7. Maritime Operations Remain Normal

·         No incidents involving Indian-flagged vessels in past 24 hours

·         All Indian seafarers in region reported safe

·         Indian ports functioning normally with no congestion

·         2,729 seafarers repatriated so far, including 49 in the last 24 hours

8. Indian Nationals in Gulf and West Asia

·         MEA continues close monitoring and consular support

·         12.38 lakh passengers have travelled from region to India since 28 February

·         Flights improving from UAE, Saudi Arabia, Oman, Qatar, Bahrain, Iraq and Israel

·         2,432 Indians evacuated from Iran via Armenia and Azerbaijan

9. Strategic Measures for Energy Security

·         New Natural Gas and Petroleum Products Distribution Order, 2026 notified

·         Accelerated approval framework introduced for CGD infrastructure

·         States linking PNG reforms may receive additional LPG allocations

Overall Message

Government projects stable fuel supplies, expanding gas infrastructure, normal maritime operations, and improving evacuation connectivity, while urging citizens to avoid panic buying and rely only on official information.

 

[ABS News Service/25.04.2026]

As the situation in West Asia continues to evolve, the Government of India is maintaining a steady flow of updates to keep citizens informed. In this context, a media briefing was held today at the National Media Centre, where officers from the Ministries of Petroleum and Natural Gas, Ports, Shipping and Waterways, and External Affairs shared updates on fuel availability, maritime operations, assistance to Indian nationals in the region, and measures being undertaken to ensure stability across key sectors.

Energy Supply and Fuel Availability

The Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas apprised the media of the prevailing fuel supply scenario, highlighting the steps being undertaken to maintain uninterrupted availability of petroleum products and LPG amid the evolving situation in West Asia. As stated by Ministry:

Public Advisory and Citizen Awareness

·         Citizens are advised to avoid panic purchase of petrol, diesel and LPG as the Govt is making all efforts to ensure availability of petrol, diesel and LPG.

·         Beware of rumours and rely on official sources for correct information.

·         LPG consumers are requested to use digital booking platforms and avoid visiting distributors.

·         Citizens are encouraged to use alternate fuels such as PNG and electric or induction cooktops.

·         All citizens are requested to make necessary efforts to conserve energy in their daily use during the current situation.

Government Preparedness and Supply Management Measures

·         Despite the ongoing geopolitical situation, the Government has ensured that 100% supply is being made to Domestic LPG, Domestic PNG and CNG (Transport).

·         For commercial LPG, priority has been given to hospitals, educational institutions. Besides this, priority has also been given to pharma, steel, automobile, seed, agriculture, etc. In addition to this, supply of 5 Kg FTL to migrant labour is also doubled based on average daily supply on 2nd and 3rd March 2026.

·         The Government has already implemented several rationalisation measures on both the supply and demand side, including enhancing refinery production, increasing the booking interval from 21 to 25 days in urban areas and up to 45 days in rural areas and prioritising sectors for supply.

·         Alternate fuels such as kerosene and coal have been made available to ease pressure on LPG demand.

·         The Ministry of Coal has directed Coal India and Singareni Collieries to supply additional coal to States for distribution to small and medium consumers.

·         States have been advised to facilitate new PNG connections for domestic and commercial consumers.

Coordinated Efforts with States/UTs and Institutional Mechanisms

·         The State Governments are empowered under the Essential Commodities Act, 1955 and LPG Control Order, 2000 to monitor supply and act against hoarding and black marketing.

·         Government of States/UTs have to play a primary role in monitoring and regulating supply situation of essential commodities including Petrol, Diesel and LPG. Govt. of India has reiterated the same via multiple letters and VCs to all States/UTs.

·         The Government of India vide letters dated 27.03.2026 and 02.04.2026 have stressed the need for proactive public communication to reassure citizens regarding adequate fuel availability. Regular review meetings are being held with States/UTs. In this context, meetings were convened on 02.04.2026 (Chaired by Secretary, MoPNG) and on 06.04.2026 (Chaired by Secretary, MoPNG along with Secretaries of I&B and Consumer Affairs), wherein the following was emphasized:

o    To issue daily press briefings and issue regular public advisories.

o    To actively monitor and counter fake news / misinformation on social media.

o    To intensify daily enforcement drives by District admin and to continue raids and inspections in coordination with OMCs

o    To issue Commercial LPG allocation orders within their States/UTs

o    To issue SKO allocation orders for additional SKO allotted to the States/UTs.

o    To promote PNG adoptions and alternate fuels.

o    To prioritize LPG supply, especially for domestic needs, and adopt targeted distribution of 5 kg FTL cylinders to ensure supply stability.

·         All States/UTs have established control rooms and district monitoring committees to curb hoarding and black marketing.

·         Many states/UTs are issuing/carrying out press briefs.

Enforcement and Monitoring Actions

·         Enforcement actions continue across the country to curb hoarding and black marketing of LPG. Yesterday, more than 2300 raids were conducted across the country.

·         PSU OMCs have strengthened and continued surprise inspections and imposed penalties on 307 LPG distributorships, and 70 LPG distributorships have been suspended till yesterday.

LPG Supply

Domestic LPG Supply Status:

·         LPG supply continues to be affected by the prevailing geopolitical situation.

·         Supply of LPG to domestic households has been prioritized.

·         No dry-outs have been reported at LPG distributorships.

·         Online LPG cylinder bookings have increased to 98% on industry basis yesterday.

·         Delivery Authentication Code (DAC) based deliveries have increased to around 94% to prevent diversion. DAC is received on the registered mobile number of the consumer.

Commercial LPG Supply and Allocation Measures:

·         Total commercial LPG allocation has been increased to about 70% of pre-crisis levels, including 10% reform-linked allocation.

·         The Government of India vide letter dated 06.04.2026 has conveyed that daily quantity of 5 Kg FTL cylinders in each State available for disbursal to migrant labourers is being doubled based on the average daily supply (Number of cylinders) to migrant labourers during 2nd-3rd March 2026 beyond the limit of 20% mentioned in letter dated 21.03.2026. These 5 Kg FTL cylinders are at disposal of the State Government for supplying only to migrant labourers in their State with assistance of Oil Marketing Companies (OMCs).

·         Since 1st April 2026, more than 17.83 Lakh - 5 Kg FTL cylinders have been sold.

·         Yesterday, more than 81,000 – 5 Kg FTL cylinders were sold across the country.

·         Since 3rd April 2026, PSU OMCs have organised more than 8500 awareness camps for 5 Kg FTL Cylinders, wherein more than 1,33,000 - 5Kg FTL cylinders were also sold.

·         Yesterday, 5549 – 5 Kg FTLs were sold through more than 250 camps.

·         A three-member committee of Executive Directors from IOCL, HPCL and BPCL is coordinating with State authorities and industry bodies to plan commercial LPG distribution in the States/UTs.

·         During the month of April-26 (till 23.04.26), a total of 1,47,262 MT (Equivalent to more than 77.50 Lakh of 19 Kg LPG Cylinders) of Commercial LPG has been sold.

Natural Gas Supply and PNG Expansion Initiatives

·         Consumers have been prioritised with 100% supplies to D-PNG and CNG-Transport.

·         The overall gas allocation to fertilizer plants has been enhanced to approximately 95% of their six-month average consumption.

·         Additionally, gas supply to other industrial and commercial sectors, including supplies through City Gas Distribution (CGD) networks, is enhanced up to 80%.

·         CGD entities have been advised to prioritize PNG connections for commercial establishments such as hotels, restaurants and canteens across all their Geographical Areas (GAs), to address concerns regarding the availability of commercial LPG.

·         CGD companies including IGL, MGL, GAIL Gas and BPCL are offering incentives for domestic and commercial PNG connections.

·         States/UTs and Central Ministries have been requested to expedite approvals required for expansion of CGD networks.

·         The Government of India vide letter dated 18.03.2026 has offered all States/UTs additional 10% allocation of commercial LPG to States provided they can help in long term transition from LPG to PNG. Twenty two (22) States/UTs are receiving additional commercial LPG allocation linked to PNG expansion reforms.

·         The Ministry of Road Transport & Highways vide letter dated 24.03.26 has adopted an ‘Accelerated Approval Framework for CGD infrastructure with reduced timelines’ as a special for 3 months to process applications pertaining to CGD infrastructure on priority.

·         The Government of India vide Gazette dated 24.03.2026 has notified the Natural Gas and Petroleum Products Distribution (Through Laying, Building, Operation and Expansion of Pipelines and Other Facilities) Order, 2026 under the Essential Commodities Act, 1955. The Order provides a streamlined and time-bound framework for laying and expanding pipelines across the country, addressing delays in approvals and access to land, and enabling faster development of natural gas infrastructure, including in residential areas. It is expected to accelerate PNG network growth, enhance last-mile connectivity, and support the transition to cleaner fuels, thereby strengthening energy security and advancing India’s gas-based economy.

·         PNGRB has directed CGD entities to expedite D-PNG connections. Also, the National PNG Drive 2.0 has been extended till 30.06.2026 to sustain momentum in PNG expansion.

·         To encourage a cleaner, more secure and self-reliant energy future, the Government of India has developed a model draft State CBG Policy. The model policy is intended to serve as a comprehensive flexible guiding framework to enable States to create their own investor-friendly and implementation-oriented ecosystem for CBG development. Those States which opt for this, will be prioritized for the next tranche of additional allocation of commercial LPG.

·         MoEFCC vide order dated 07.04.2026 has directed CPCB to issue necessary directions to SPCB/PCCs for granting consent to establish or consent to operate within 15 days for CGD network/infrastructure.

·         Since March 2026, about 5.27 Lakh PNG connections have been gasified and infrastructure has been created for additional 2.60 lakh connections, taking the total to 7.87 lakh connections. Further, about 5.97 Lakh customers have been registered for new connections.

·         Till 23.04.2026, more than 42,000 PNG consumers have surrendered their LPG connections via MYPNGD.in website.

Crude Position and Refinery Operations

·         All refineries are operating at high capacity with adequate crude inventories, while sufficient stocks of petrol and diesel are being maintained.

·         Domestic LPG production from refineries has been increased to support domestic consumption.

·         An inter-ministerial Joint Working Group (JWG) has been set up to ensure availability of petrochemical feedstock supply for the domestic market. Subsequently, Government of India vide order dated 01.04.2026 has permitted Oil Refinery companies including Petrochemical Complexes to make certain minimum quantities of C3 & C4 streams available for critical sectors as determined by Centre for High Technology (CHT).

·         Based on the requests received from the Department of Pharmaceuticals, Department of Chemicals & Petro Chemicals (DCPC), Dept. for Promotion of Industry and internal trade (DPIIT), the provision for 1000 MT/day, from LPG pool, has been made for Pharma and Chemical sector companies.

·         Since 9th April 2026, more than 6400 MT of propylene has been sold by Mumbai, Kochi and Mathura refineries to Chemical and Pharma Industry.

Retail Fuel Availability and pricing Measures

·         Retail outlets across the country are operating normally.

·         The Middle East crisis has led to an abnormal increase in crude prices; however, to protect consumers, the Government of India has reduced excise duty on petrol and diesel by ₹10 per litre.

·         Government of India vide Gazette notification dated 11.04.2026 has increased the export levy on diesel to Rs. 55.50 per litre and on ATF to Rs. 42 per litre, to ensure availability of these products in the domestic market.

·         Regular Retail Prices for Petrol and Diesel are unchanged and there is no price increase at PSU OMCs Retail Outlets.

Kerosene Availability and Distribution Measures

·         An additional allocation of 48,000 KL of kerosene has been provided to States/UTs over and above regular allocation.

·         18 States/UTs have issued SKO allocation orders, while Himachal Pradesh and Ladakh have indicated no requirement.

Maritime Safety and Shipping Operations

An update on the prevailing maritime situation in the Persian Gulf was shared by the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways. The Ministry said:

·         The Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways continues to coordinate with the Ministry of External Affairs, Indian Missions and maritime stakeholders to ensure seafarer welfare and uninterrupted maritime 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 DG Shipping Control Room remains operational 24×7 and has handled 7,553 calls and over 16,033 emails since activation, including 150 calls and 394 emails in the past 24 hours.

·         The Directorate General of Shipping has facilitated the safe repatriation of more than 2,729 Indian seafarers so far, including 49 in the last 24 hours from various locations across the Gulf region.

·         Port operations across India continue to remain normal, with no congestion reported.

Safety of Indian Nationals in the Region

The Ministry of External Affairs remains actively engaged with the evolving developments in the Gulf and West Asia region, prioritising the well-being, safety and support of the Indian community residing there. As informed by the Ministry:

·         The Ministry of External Affairs continues to closely monitor developments in the Gulf and West Asia region, with efforts focused on ensuring the safety and welfare of the Indian community.

·         The Ministry remains in close coordination with State Governments and Union Territories for information sharing and support.

·         A dedicated Special Control Room remains operational to respond to queries from Indian nationals and their families.

·         Indian Embassies and Consulates in the region are operating round-the-clock helplines and are proactively assisting citizens.

·         Missions remain in close contact with local governments and are issuing regular advisories covering safety guidelines, travel updates, consular services and welfare measures.

·         Our Missions are actively engaging with Indian community associations, professional groups and Indian companies to address concerns.

·         Welfare of Indian seafarers remain a priority, with Missions providing assistance including coordination with local authorities, consular support and facilitating return to India where required.

·         The overall flight situation continues to improve, with additional flights operating from the region to India. Since 28 February, around 12,38,000 passengers have travelled from the region to India.

·         In the UAE, airlines are operating limited commercial flights based on operational and safety considerations, with around 110 flights expected to operate from the UAE to India.

·         Flights continue to operate from various airports in Saudi Arabia and Oman to various destinations in India.

·         With Qatar Airspace partially open, Qatar Airways is operating flights to various destinations in India.

·         Kuwait airspace is now open, with airlines expected to resume limited operations soon. Non-scheduled flights from Dammam in Saudi Arabia continue.

·         Bahrain airspace is open, with Gulf Air operating flights to India.

·         Iraq airspace is open with limited flight operations, which can be used for onward travel to India.

·         Iran airspace is partially open for cargo and chartered flights. The Embassy has reiterated its advisory urging Indian nationals to avoid travel to Iran and advising those present to exit via land borders. So far, 2,432 Indian nationals have been facilitated to move out via Armenia and Azerbaijan, including 1,096 students and 657 fishermen.

·         Israel airspace is open, with limited flight operations resumed for onward travel to India.