Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday chaired a meeting of the Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) and held detailed discussions with senior ministers on the prevailing global security situation, with a focus on maintaining uninterrupted supply chains amid ongoing conflicts affecting key maritime routes such as the Strait of Hormuz, the Black Sea, the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden.
The meeting reviewed measures taken by various ministries and departments to safeguard India’s energy security, fertiliser supplies, shipping operations and the interests of Indian citizens and the Indian community living abroad.
The two-hour meeting at the Parliament House complex was attended by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, Home Minister Amit Shah, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar and Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, along with ministers handling petroleum, commerce, shipping and fertilisers.
Officials said this was the fourth special CCS meeting convened on the West Asia situation.
GEOPOLITICAL SITUATION DISCUSSED
The Cabinet Secretary briefed the CCS on the current geopolitical developments and steps taken to ensure adequate availability of petroleum products, including LNG and LPG.
He informed the committee that LPG procurement sources have been diversified and that overall stocks of major petroleum products remain adequate.
Adequate crude oil availability has enabled public sector refineries to operate at utilisation levels above 100 per cent, ensuring continued production of petrol, diesel and other fuels.
The government also reviewed efforts to expand Piped Natural Gas (PNG) connections and strengthen gas infrastructure through the National Gas Grid, LNG import and regasification facilities, city gas distribution networks and time-bound pipeline connectivity approvals.
A major focus of the meeting was fertiliser availability for the forthcoming Rabi season. The CCS assessed domestic requirements and discussed alternative import sources.
The Prime Minister directed that all necessary measures be taken to ensure uninterrupted fertiliser supplies. Officials indicated that sufficient stocks are available for the upcoming Rabi sowing season as well as for next year’s Kharif crop.
SPECIAL FOCUS ON SEAFARERS
The safety of Indian seafarers serving on domestic and foreign-flagged vessels in conflict zones was also discussed. Prime Minister Modi asked officials to establish a mechanism for providing timely information, emergency assistance and counselling to seafarers and their families.
He also stressed that all efforts must be made to protect Indian citizens and the Indian community from the impact of the ongoing conflict.
The meeting took place against the backdrop of heightened tensions in West Asia following the recent US-Israel conflict involving Iran.
Attacks on oil and cargo vessels in the Strait of Hormuz and threats issued by Yemen’s Houthi militia against shipping near the Bab al-Mandab have raised concerns over energy and trade flows.
Ship traffic through the Bab al-Mandab has reportedly declined in recent days, while shipping activity in the Black Sea has also faced disruptions due to the intensifying Russia-Ukraine conflict.
India remains heavily dependent on imports for its energy needs, with a significant share of supplies traditionally passing through these sensitive maritime corridors. The disruptions have therefore prompted a whole-of-government response aimed at reducing vulnerabilities.
PM Modi also emphasised the need to accelerate the use of renewable energy sources, including solar power and other non-fossil-fuel options, to strengthen India’s long-term energy independence.
He called for a unified and coordinated mechanism for regular monitoring of developments so that appropriate measures can be implemented quickly to protect citizens and national economic interests as the global situation evolves.
– Ends
