Ministers assess impact on economy, fuel supply, industry; stress vigilance, coordinated response, ensure stability, curb hoarding and misinformation
New Delhi, Apr 2 : Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Thursday chaired the second meeting of the Informal Group of Ministers (IGoM) to review the evolving situation in West Asia, stressing the need for round-the-clock monitoring and a calibrated response to minimise its impact on India. The meeting, held at Kartavya Bhawan in the national capital, was attended by key ministers including Nirmala Sitharaman, S Jaishankar, Hardeep Singh Puri, Jagat Prakash Nadda, Manohar Lal Khattar, Prahlad Joshi, Jitendra Singh and Ashwini Vaishnaw. Officials said the IGoM deliberated at length on recent developments in West Asia and assessed measures to mitigate any adverse impact on the country arising from the ongoing conflict. Singh underlined the importance of continuous monitoring of the situation and emphasised that the government must remain prepared to deal with any eventuality. He said all possible steps should be taken to ensure that citizens face minimal disruption. During the meeting, seven Empowered Groups of Secretaries briefed the
ministers on sector-wise preparedness and response measures. The finance ministry informed the panel about steps taken to address concerns arising from global trade disruptions and support industry. These include a full customs duty exemption on 40 critical petrochemical products till June 30, 2026, and a one-time relief measure allowing eligible Special Economic Zone (SEZ) units to sell goods in the domestic tariff area at concessional duty rates till March 31, 2027. Officials said these measures are aimed at reducing cost pressures on downstream sectors such as textiles, packaging and pharmaceuticals, while ensuring supply stability and boosting investor confidence. The government has also capped the monthly increase in Aviation Turbine Fuel (ATF) prices for domestic operations at 25 per cent from April 1 to prevent a sharp rise in airfares, they said. On the energy front, the IGoM was informed that domestic LPG supply remains stable, with refinery production enhanced to meet consumption requirements. Authorities said there have been no reports
of supply disruptions at distributorships, and deliveries are continuing as per schedule. Temporary concerns in some areas were attributed to hoarding and black marketing, which led to panic buying. Officials said enforcement agencies are carrying out raids across states and union territories to curb such practices, and action has been taken against erring distributors. To support vulnerable sections, over 4.3 lakh 5-kg free trade LPG cylinders have been supplied since March 23, with a focus on high-demand regions. The panel was also informed that industrial LPG supply is being maintained at over 80 per cent of pre-crisis levels, while piped natural gas is being promoted as an alternative fuel wherever feasible. The government has also stepped up monitoring of misinformation on social media, with officials warning that attempts are being made to spread panic through misleading content. Citizens have been advised to rely only on official sources for updates.The first IGoM meeting on the issue was held on March 28.(KNS).
