**Executive Summary**
On April 18, 2026, Raksha Mantri Rajnath Singh chaired the fourth meeting of the Informal Group of Ministers (IGoM) to review India’s preparedness regarding the volatile situation in West Asia. The meeting focused on securing maritime trade through a new ₹12,980 crore insurance pool, ensuring robust fuel and fertilizer stocks, and diversifying energy import sources. Key actions include documenting state-level best practices and maintaining high-level communication to safeguard the welfare of the Indian diaspora.
**Key Points / Main Content**
**Maritime and Trade Security**
* Approval of the ‘Bharat Maritime Insurance Pool’ with a sovereign guarantee of ₹12,980 crore to provide affordable coverage for cargo vessels.
* The pool aims to protect Indian trade interests in volatile maritime corridors, ensuring the stability of import-export operations.
**Energy Security and Diversification**
* India maintains fuel stocks for over 60 days of consumption (crude oil, petrol, diesel, and ATF), with LNG and LPG stocks secured for 50 and 40 days respectively.
* Import sources have been diversified to the United States, Australia, and Latin America to reduce dependence on the Strait of Hormuz.
* Active promotion of Piped Natural Gas (PNG) saw 4.76 lakh connections gasified since March 2026, with a 15% daily growth rate in consumers switching from LPG.
**Industrial and Food Commodity Management**
* Wholesale and retail food prices remain stable; an additional 25 LMT of wheat has been recommended for export.
* An inter-ministerial Joint Working Group was established to ensure petrochemical feedstock availability, specifically C3 and C4 streams for critical sectors.
* Provisions have been made for 1,000 MT/day from the LPG pool for the pharmaceutical and chemical sectors.
**Agricultural Support and Oversight**
* A total of 47.50 lakh tons of fertilizers (Urea, NPK, DAP, SSP) were added to stocks between March 1 and April 16, 2026.
* In April 2026 alone, 459 district-level task forces conducted 8,330 raids to prevent hoarding, black marketing, and diversion of fertilizers.
* Over 1.85 lakh Nigrani Samitis have been formed to conduct awareness campaigns on the judicious use of fertilizers.
**Impact Analysis**
**Indian Exporters and Importers**
**Impact:** They gain access to affordable, continuous insurance for cargo vessels through the domestic insurance pool, even when transiting high-risk zones.
**Action Required:** Transition to the Bharat Maritime Insurance Pool to ensure the security of international trade shipments.
**Indian Diaspora in the Gulf**
**Impact:** Their well-being is designated as a top government priority amid regional uncertainty.
**Action Required:** Maintain constant communication with Indian missions and local authorities for assistance.
**State and Union Territory Governments**
**Impact:** Responsible for localized management of the situation and ensuring the effectiveness of mitigation measures.
**Action Required:** Identify and document best practices for situation management to be shared and replicated across other states.
**Oil and Petrochemical Companies**
**Impact:** Subject to government orders to prioritize domestic market needs for critical sectors.
**Action Required:** Ensure minimum quantities of C3 and C4 streams are available for critical sectors as determined by the Centre for High Technology.
Key Entities Referenced
Informal Group of Ministers (IGoM): The primary ministerial body, headed by the Raksha Mantri, responsible for reviewing India's strategic preparedness and response to the volatile situation in West Asia.
Bharat Maritime Insurance Pool: A cabinet-approved initiative with a Rs 12,980 crore sovereign guarantee designed to ensure continuous and affordable maritime insurance for Indian trade vessels transiting volatile corridors.
West Asia: The central geographic region of conflict whose volatile situation necessitates India's strategic resource diversification and diplomatic coordination.
Joint Working Group (JWG): An inter-ministerial body established to coordinate and ensure the availability of petrochemical feedstock supply for the Indian domestic market.
Centre for High Technology (CHT): The technical body responsible for determining critical sectors for the allocation of specific refinery streams (C3 & C4) to support domestic industry.
Ministry of Defence
RM-led IGoM takes stock of West Asia situation
& India’s preparedness
India must remain prepared for de-escalation as well as any
renewed escalation: Raksha Mantri
“PM Modi-led Govt continues to take swift & effective action
to mitigate any potential challenges”
Posted On: 18 APR 2026 8:10PM by PIB Delhi
The Informal Group of Ministers (IGoM), headed by Raksha Mantri Shri Rajnath Singh, reviewed the
current situation in West Asia and discussed India’s preparedness as well as the future course of action
during its fourth meeting at Kartavya Bhawan-2, New Delhi on April 18, 2026. Minister of External
Affairs Dr S Jaishankar; Minister of Chemicals & Fertilizers Shri Jagat Prakash Nadda; Minister of
Petroleum and Natural Gas Shri Hardeep Singh Puri; Minister of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public
Distribution Shri Prahlad Joshi; Minister of Civil Aviation Shri Kinjarapu Rammohan Naidu; Minister of
Ports, Shipping and Waterways Shri Sarbananda Sonowal; Minister of Power Shri Manohar Lal; Minister
of Labour and Employment, Youth Affairs & Sports Dr Mansukh Mandaviya; and Minister of State
(Independent Charge) of the Ministry of Science & Technology Dr Jitendra Singh attended the meeting.Raksha Mantri termed the ground situation of the conflict as uncertain & volatile, and emphasised on the
need for India to remain prepared not only for de-escalation but also for any renewed escalation. In a post
on X, he stated that the Government under the leadership of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi continues
to take swift and effective action to mitigate any potential risks or problems arising due to the conflict.
https://x.com/rajnathsingh/status/2045475583598202958?s=46
Raksha Mantri made special mention of the Union Cabinet’s approval of a proposal for the creation of
‘Bharat Maritime Insurance Pool’ with a sovereign guarantee of Rs 12,980 crore to facilitate continuous
maritime insurance coverages. This domestic insurance pool ensures that Indian trade continues to have
access to affordable insurance for vessels carrying cargo from any international origin to Indian ports and
vice-versa, even when transiting volatile maritime corridors. “This important decision will ensure
affordable and continuous insurance coverage for India’s maritime trade, strengthening the security and
stability of India’s import-export operations. This is a major step towards a stronger, safer and more
resilient trade ecosystem for India,” he said.
The IGoM was informed that despite a significant global supply shock, India has maintained adequate fuel
stock position, with active efforts to ensure uninterrupted supply. Currently, India has inventories of crude
oil, petrol, diesel, and ATF sufficient for over 60 days of consumption. While LNG stocks sufficient for
approximately 50 days and LPG stocks sufficient for approximately 40 days respectively are maintained
supported by domestic production. To mitigate risks arising from heavy dependence on the Strait of
Hormuz, the Government has actively diversified import sources, securing crude, LNG, and LPG supplies
from regions including the United States, Australia, and Latin America. Import requirements for April and
May 2026 are largely secured, ensuring continuity of supply.Piped Natural Gas (PNG) is being actively promoted wherever feasible to reduce LPG dependence. Since
March 2026, more than 4.76 Lakh PNG connections have been gasified. Further, more than 5.33 Lakh
customers have been registered for new connections. Till 17.04.2026, more than 37,500 PNG consumers
have surrendered their LPG connections via MYPNGD.in website with a daily growth rate of 15%,
indicating a significant shift towards PNG.
An inter-ministerial Joint Working Group (JWG) has been set-up to ensure availability of petrochemical
feedstock supply for the domestic market. Subsequently, Govt. 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 & Petrochemicals (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, around 3200 MT of propylene has been sold.The Ministers were informed that the Wholesale Price Index as well as Retail prices of all food
commodities are stable and range bound. Additional allocation of 25 LMT wheat has been recommended
by IMC for export. Consumer grievances with respect to LPG are showing declining trend on national
consumer helpline 1915. The supply of Propylene has been tied up with BPCL Kochi & Mumbai
refineries; and Methanol with Assam Petrochemicals and GNFC. There is no material shortage for
Propylene and Methanol.
The IGoM was informed that India has adequate fertiliser stocks of Urea, DAP, NPK, SSP and MOP.
From March 01, 2026 to April 16, 2026, a total of 47.50 lakh tons of fertilisers - 28.22 lakh tons of Urea,
10.17 lakh tons of NPK and 3.34 lakh tons of DAP, along with 5.77 lakh tons of SSP - have further
boosted the stocks. The special arrangement in the Department of Fertilisers for procuring LNG for
production of Urea has been successful in coordination with the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas.
The Phosphoric Acid issue has been resolved and a substantial amount of ammonium sulphate is being
tied up for import, as an alternative fertiliser.
The meeting was informed that several Indian missions abroad are coordinating for different kinds of
fertilisers and input for use in India. A number of effective steps are being taken against diversion,
hoarding, black marketing and excessive sales in pockets. Two meetings with Secretaries, Agriculture of
States have already been held to sensitise the field officers for effective and appropriate steps for balanced
use of fertilisers. In addition, 459 district level task-forces are functional. In April alone, 8,330 raids were
conducted by States, 171 licenses suspended/cancelled, and 32 FIRs lodged. More than 1.85 lakh Nigrani
Samitis have been formed to carry out awareness campaigns on judicious use of fertilisers.
Describing the well-being and welfare of the Indian diaspora as the Government’s top priority, Shri
Rajnath Singh underlined the need to maintain constant communication with them as well as the
concerned nations in the Gulf region to provide all possible assistance. Within the country, he stressed that
the measures being taken to mitigate the impact of the situation need to be consistent for a uniformly
impactful effect across States/Union Territories. “To ensure the effective management of the situation, the
best practices adopted by the States/UTs must be identified and systematically documented so that they
can be shared widely & replicated in other states as well,” he said.
Raksha Mantri added that due cognizance needs to be taken of the mitigation measures being undertaken
by different countries to tackle the challenge. “The policy steps, and best practices should be documented
so that, as and when required, lessons may be drawn from them to further strengthen our response
framework,” he said.
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