Prime Minister Narendra Modi today chaired a meeting of the Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) to review the evolving situation arising from the ongoing conflict in West Asia and assess measures being taken by various ministries and departments to protect India’s strategic and economic interests.
This was the fourth special CCS meeting convened on the issue, with senior officials briefing the Prime Minister on the geopolitical situation and steps initiated to ensure uninterrupted supplies of essential commodities, including petroleum products and fertilizers.
Cabinet Secretary briefed the CCS on measures taken to maintain adequate availability of fuel supplies, including LNG, LPG, crude oil and other petroleum products. The government has diversified sources for LPG procurement, while overall stock and supply levels of major petroleum products remain stable.
The meeting was informed that adequate crude oil availability has enabled Central Public Sector Enterprise (CPSE) refineries to operate at over 100 per cent utilisation capacity, ensuring continued production of petrol, diesel and other petroleum products.
The government has also accelerated initiatives to expand the country’s gas infrastructure, including increasing Piped Natural Gas (PNG) connections, strengthening the National Gas Grid, expanding LNG import and regasification facilities, and improving City Gas Distribution networks.
Reviewing the fertilizer situation ahead of the Rabi season, Prime Minister Modi directed officials to take all necessary steps to ensure uninterrupted availability of fertilizers for farmers. Alternate sources of fertilizer supplies were also discussed during the meeting.
The Prime Minister also expressed concern over the safety of Indian seafarers working on domestic and foreign-flagged vessels operating in conflict-affected regions. He directed the establishment of a dedicated mechanism to provide timely information, emergency assistance and counselling support to seafarers and their families.
Emphasising the need to protect Indians and the Indian diaspora from the impact of the conflict, Prime Minister Modi called for continued coordination among government agencies and a proactive approach to address emerging challenges.
Highlighting the importance of energy security, the Prime Minister stressed the need to accelerate efforts towards renewable energy sources, including solar power and other non-fossil fuel-based alternatives, to strengthen India’s long-term energy independence.
Calling for a “whole of government” approach, Prime Minister Modi directed the creation of a unified and coordinated monitoring mechanism to track developments regularly and ensure swift implementation of measures aimed at safeguarding the interests of citizens.
The meeting reaffirmed the government’s focus on maintaining energy security, protecting citizens abroad and ensuring resilience against global disruptions arising from the West Asia crisis.
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