India has asserted that it remains fully prepared to manage any potential disruptions in energy supplies arising from the evolving hostilities in the Middle East, with adequate crude stocks, diversified sourcing and continuous monitoring mechanisms in place.
Addressing the media on 3 March 2026, Hardeep Singh Puri, Minister of Petroleum and Natural Gas, outlined the country’s preparedness in view of the changing geopolitical situation and its potential impact on global energy markets.
He stated that India currently ranks as the world’s third largest importer of crude oil, the fourth largest refiner and the fifth largest exporter of petroleum products. Given this scale and strategic positioning, the country has maintained sufficient inventories of crude oil and key petroleum products, including petrol, diesel and aviation turbine fuel, to address short term supply disruptions.
The Minister emphasised that over the past several years, India has systematically diversified its crude procurement strategy to ensure both availability and affordability of energy. Indian energy companies now source crude from a broad range of suppliers, including shipments that do not transit through the Strait of Hormuz. This diversification is expected to cushion the impact of any temporary supply constraints affecting cargoes routed through the region.
Officials indicated that India’s refiners have built operational flexibility to adjust sourcing patterns in response to evolving global conditions. The diversified import basket enhances resilience against geopolitical volatility and strengthens supply security.
To ensure real time assessment and coordination, the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas has established a 24 by 7 Control Room to continuously monitor the availability and stock position of petroleum products across the country. The control room tracks supply chains, inventory levels and distribution networks to enable swift intervention if required.
At present, the Government has conveyed that it is reasonably comfortable with the existing stock position. Consumer interests remain the foremost priority, and any necessary phased measures will be implemented based on ongoing assessment of developments.
With diversified crude sourcing, adequate inventories and institutional monitoring systems in place, India has projected confidence in its ability to maintain stable energy supplies despite global uncertainties.
