Defence Minister Leads War Preparedness Review as India Secures 60-Day Fuel Buffer, 47.5 Lakh Tonnes Fertiliser

India on April 18 moved to reinforce its economic and strategic preparedness amid the ongoing West Asia war, with a high-level ministerial group led by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh reviewing the volatile ground situation and outlining a calibrated response spanning energy security, trade continuity, fertiliser supply and diaspora protection. Meeting in New Delhi for the fourth time since the conflict began, the Informal Group of Ministers (IGoM) assessed both immediate risks and long-term contingencies, with Singh describing the situation as “uncertain and volatile” and stressing that India must be ready “not only for de-escalation but also for any renewed escalation,” while asserting that the government is taking “swift and effective action to mitigate any potential risks or problems.”

Image Via: @rajnathsingh on X

At the core of the government’s strategy is insulating India’s economy from disruptions linked to the Strait of Hormuz, a critical energy chokepoint. Officials told the meeting that despite a significant global supply shock, India currently holds fuel inventories sufficient for over 60 days for crude oil, petrol, diesel and aviation fuel, alongside approximately 50 days of LNG and 40 days of LPG stocks, supported by domestic production. 

To reduce exposure to the conflict zone, import diversification has been accelerated, with crude, LNG and LPG supplies secured from the United States, Australia and Latin America, and procurement for April–May largely locked in to ensure continuity.

A major structural intervention announced during the meeting was the creation of a ₹12,980 crore Bharat Maritime Insurance Pool, backed by a sovereign guarantee, aimed at ensuring uninterrupted and affordable insurance coverage for Indian vessels navigating high-risk maritime corridors. 

Singh described the move as critical to maintaining trade flows, stating it would “ensure affordable and continuous insurance coverage for India’s maritime trade” and strengthen the resilience of import-export operations amid escalating geopolitical risks.

Domestically, the government has expanded efforts to shift energy consumption patterns, particularly by accelerating adoption of piped natural gas (PNG) to reduce dependence on LPG. Since March, more than 4.76 lakh PNG connections have been activated, over 5.33 lakh new consumers registered, and more than 37,500 households have surrendered LPG connections, reflecting a structural transition supported by policy incentives and infrastructure expansion.

To safeguard industrial supply chains, an inter-ministerial Joint Working Group has been set up to ensure availability of petrochemical feedstock, with refinery-linked allocations of critical inputs such as C3 and C4 streams mandated for priority sectors. 

The government has earmarked 1,000 metric tonnes per day from the LPG pool for pharmaceuticals and chemical industries, with over 3,200 metric tonnes of propylene already supplied since April 9, ensuring continuity for key manufacturing segments.

Food and inflation management also featured prominently in the review, with ministers informed that wholesale and retail prices of essential commodities remain “stable and range bound.” 

Additional wheat export allocations of 25 lakh metric tonnes have been recommended, while consumer complaints related to LPG have declined, indicating stabilisation of supply chains despite global disruptions.

On the agriculture front, India’s fertiliser security has been bolstered through both domestic production and imports, with 47.5 lakh tonnes of fertilisers supplied between March 1 and April 16, including urea, DAP, NPK and SSP. 

The government has resolved key input bottlenecks such as phosphoric acid supply and is securing alternative imports like ammonium sulphate, while LNG procurement for urea production has been coordinated to sustain output.

Enforcement mechanisms have also been tightened to prevent market distortions, with 8,330 raids conducted in April alone, leading to 171 licence suspensions or cancellations and 32 FIRs, supported by 459 district task forces and over 1.85 lakh local monitoring committees to curb hoarding, diversion and black marketing of fertilisers.

Beyond domestic stabilisation, the government underscored the protection of Indian nationals abroad as a priority, with ongoing coordination between Indian missions and Gulf countries to ensure safety and assistance. 

Singh emphasised the need for “constant communication” with the diaspora and called for standardising best practices across states to ensure a uniform national response, while also urging that global policy responses be studied to strengthen India’s own mitigation framework as the conflict continues to evolve.