Petrol, diesel, LPG supply normal; Rajnath Singh urges citizens to avoid panic buying
Synopsis
With West Asia tensions rattling global supply chains, India's government is pushing back against panic at the pump. Defence Minister Rajnath Singh confirmed fuel supply is normal, backed by hard numbers — 1.72 crore cylinders delivered in four days against 1.66 crore bookings. A new LPG amendment order also gives PNG switchers a safety net, signalling a quiet but deliberate shift in India's household energy policy.
Key Takeaways
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh confirmed on 27 May that petrol, diesel, and LPG supply across India is normal and urged citizens to avoid panic buying.
The 6th IGoM meeting reviewed essential commodity availability and supply chain resilience in the context of the West Asia conflict.
Approximately 1.72 crore LPG cylinders were delivered against bookings of 1.66 crore over the last four days — supply is running ahead of demand.
The government notified the LPG (Regulation of Supply and Distribution) Amendment Order, 2026 , allowing PNG switchers to reclaim their LPG connection via a transfer voucher if they move to a non-PNG area.
Total PNG connections stand at 10.86 lakh , with 7.99 lakh fully gasified and infrastructure ready for 2.87 lakh more since March 2026 .
Public sector oil firms have held 15,400 awareness camps for 5 kg cylinders , selling over 2.45 lakh units since 3 April 2026 .
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Wednesday, 27 May urged citizens across India to refrain from panic-buying petrol, diesel, and LPG, asserting that the country's fuel supply situation remains fully normal and that the government is taking every measure to ensure the availability of essential commodities.
IGoM Review and Government Assurance
Singh's remarks followed the 6th meeting of the Informal Group of Ministers (IGoM), which convened to review the availability of essential commodities and the resilience of supply chains, with a specific focus on the evolving situation in West Asia. The minister credited Prime Minister Narendra Modi's leadership for steering the country through the current period of global uncertainty.
'The Government, under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, has been doing excellent work since the conflict in West Asia broke out. The GoM expressed gratitude to PM Modi for his farsighted vision and providing outstanding leadership during difficult times,' Singh said.
New LPG Amendment Order for PNG Consumers
In a parallel development, the government has notified the Liquefied Petroleum Gas (Regulation of Supply and Distribution) Amendment Order, 2026, designed to ease the transition for domestic LPG consumers shifting to piped natural gas (PNG) connections.
Under the amended rules, LPG consumers who obtain a PNG connection may apply for termination of their LPG connection within 30 days of switching. Critically, they can also secure a transfer voucher that allows future restoration of the LPG connection if they relocate to an area without PNG infrastructure — offering a meaningful safety net for consumers in transition zones.
PNG Expansion and Cylinder Delivery Numbers
According to an official statement, about 7.99 lakh PNG connections have been fully gasified, with infrastructure readied for an additional 2.87 lakh connections — bringing the total to 10.86 lakh connections since March 2026. This rapid rollout underscores the Centre's push to diversify household fuel dependency away from cylinders.
On the LPG delivery front, approximately 1.72 crore domestic LPG cylinders were delivered against bookings of around 1.66 crore cylinders during the last four days — indicating supply is not only adequate but running slightly ahead of demand. Public sector oil companies also organised around 15,400 awareness camps for small 5 kg LPG cylinders, selling more than 2.45 lakh such cylinders since 3 April 2026.
What Citizens Are Being Asked to Do
The government has advised LPG consumers to use digital booking platforms and avoid visiting distributors in person. Citizens are also being encouraged to adopt alternative fuels such as PNG and electric or induction cooktops, and to conserve energy in daily use during the current situation, according to the official statement.
With supply running ahead of bookings and PNG infrastructure expanding rapidly, the immediate pressure on India's fuel distribution network appears manageable — though the government's vigilance signals it is not taking the global situation lightly.
Point of View
No less — to reassure citizens about cooking gas and petrol supply is itself a signal of how seriously it is treating the West Asia spillover risk. The IGoM mechanism, convened six times already, suggests contingency planning is active, not merely reactive. The LPG amendment order, while framed as consumer convenience, is also a strategic nudge toward PNG adoption — reducing cylinder logistics pressure precisely when global LPG supply chains are under strain. The real test will come if the West Asia situation escalates further; India's import dependence on crude and LPG means the current calm is partly a function of buffer stocks and pre-positioned supply, not structural insulation.
NationPress
12 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Is petrol, diesel and LPG supply normal in India right now?
Yes, according to Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on 27 May, the supply of petrol, diesel, and LPG across India is currently normal. The government has stated that over 1.72 crore LPG cylinders were delivered in the last four days against bookings of 1.66 crore, indicating supply is running slightly ahead of demand.
Why is the government urging citizens not to panic-buy fuel?
The government is cautioning against panic buying because hoarding creates artificial shortages even when actual supply is adequate. The advisory follows the 6th IGoM meeting, which was convened to monitor essential commodity availability against the backdrop of the ongoing West Asia conflict.
What is the LPG Amendment Order 2026 and who does it benefit?
The Liquefied Petroleum Gas (Regulation of Supply and Distribution) Amendment Order, 2026 allows domestic LPG consumers who switch to piped natural gas (PNG) to apply for LPG connection termination within 30 days and receive a transfer voucher for future restoration if they move to a non-PNG area. It benefits consumers in transition areas who want the flexibility to switch back to cylinders if PNG infrastructure is unavailable at their next location.
How many PNG connections has India added since March 2026?
Since March 2026, a total of 10.86 lakh PNG connections have been created — with 7.99 lakh fully gasified and infrastructure in place for an additional 2.87 lakh connections, according to an official government statement.
How can LPG consumers book cylinders during the current situation?
The government has urged LPG consumers to use digital booking platforms and avoid visiting distributors in person. Citizens are also encouraged to consider alternative fuels such as PNG and electric or induction cooktops to reduce pressure on LPG supply chains.
