New Delhi: The Government of India has announced a landmark shift in its energy distribution policy to provide immediate relief to households facing a severe cooking gas shortage triggered by the ongoing Iran-U.S.-Israel conflict. Following the disruption of global LPG and crude oil supply chains, the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas (MoPNG) issued a notification on Sunday, March 29, 2026, allowing the sale of kerosene at select retail petrol pumps operated by state-run oil marketing companies (OMCs), including Indian Oil (IOCL), Bharat Petroleum (BPCL), and Hindustan Petroleum (HPCL). This move aims to ensure that citizens have access to an alternative fuel for cooking and lighting as LPG stocks remain critically low across the country.
To facilitate this rapid distribution, the Centre has relaxed the Petroleum Safety and Licensing Rules, enabling a streamlined supply chain directly to consumers. Under the new guidelines, kerosene will now be available even in regions that were previously declared “Kerosene-Free” under the Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana. The notification specifically covers 21 states and Union Territories, including major regions such as Delhi, Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat, and Himachal Pradesh, where the Public Distribution System (PDS) had largely phased out the fuel in recent years.
The government’s decision serves as a strategic safety net to prevent a full-scale domestic energy vacuum while the Strait of Hormuz remains contested. By making kerosene accessible at petrol pumps alongside traditional ration shops, the ministry intends to reduce the long queues for LPG refills and provide a viable fallback for rural and urban-poor households. Officials have clarified that these measures are temporary and designed to stabilize the domestic energy market until international maritime routes are secured and LPG imports from alternative sources like the U.S. and Argentina can fully bridge the demand gap.
