12/05/2026
SHIELD IN THE SCORCHING HEAT OF ENERGY CRISIS
• The world is scorching in the fire of the energy crisis due to the closure of the Hormuz route.
• The Modi government, with its wisdom, did not let the heat of this crisis reach the public
• All activities continued normally in India.
• The public too must patiently stand by the nation.
The entire world is today feeling the impact of the global war and the Hormuz crisis. The flames of war are not confined to borders alone — their effect has reached the kitchen of every home, the wheels of every vehicle, and the budget of every family. In many countries, petrol and diesel prices reached historic highs, long queues formed at petrol pumps, inflation broke the back of the common man, and governments were forced to face the anger of their citizens. Yet, amidst all this turmoil, even after nearly 11 weeks of war, the normal pace of life in India has been maintained — the stoves of crores of families kept burning and vehicles kept running.
This did not happen on its own. Behind it lay a policy, a preparedness, and a compassionate thinking that shielded India’s citizens against the global storm. When the world was scorching in the fire of the energy crisis, the Modi government stood like a guardian alongside its citizens. Just as Lord Krishna lifted the Govardhan mountain in the Dwapar era to protect the residents of Braj, similarly, in these difficult times, the government bore a large part of the rising global prices and economic pressure itself, so that its burden would not directly reach the people’s plates, kitchens, and pockets. This is why today this crisis has become not merely a story of economic management, but an example of compassionate governance, far-sighted leadership, and accountability toward citizens.
The easiest path would have been to pass the burden of rising prices worldwide directly onto the public — and many countries did exactly that — but India did not choose this path. The Modi government bore heavy economic pressure itself so that the common man’s kitchen and daily life would be affected as little as possible. The government absorbed a burden of approximately ₹24 per litre on petrol and ₹30 per litre on diesel. After February 28, a tremendous rise in petrol and diesel prices was recorded globally. In many countries of Europe and Asia, petrol became 30 to 35 percent more expensive, while no change was made in India.
Hong Kong has the most expensive petrol today — a litre there has reached approximately ₹295, a 25 percent rise since February 28. In Singapore, prices have risen 30 percent to around ₹240 per litre. In the Netherlands, petrol has reached ₹225 per litre, a 28 percent increase. In war-torn Israel, petrol has become 30 percent more expensive, reaching ₹185 per litre. In India, petrol is still priced at ₹95 per litre.
Sustaining a daily loss of approximately ₹1,000 crore is no ordinary matter. So far, the government and oil companies have taken on a burden of approximately ₹68,000 crore. This figure is proof of that compassionate thinking in which the Modi government first considered the welfare of its citizens and then its own treasury.
Think — if this crisis had arrived without preparation, what would the situation have been? Cooking gas would have become expensive, transportation costs would have risen, inflation would have reached every home, and the budget of everyone from the middle class to the poor would have been destabilized. But from the time the Modi government came to power in 2014, conditions began to change. The far-sighted preparations made over the past years regarding energy security are now standing as the nation’s shield.
Oil reserves were built up, ethanol blending was increased, an alternative fuel network was developed, and expansion of refining capacity was initiated. Through alternative fuels, LPG demand was reduced by 70,000 to 75,000 tonnes per day. This was possible only because the alternative infrastructure of PNG, kerosene, fuel oil, and biomass was already in place before the crisis arrived. After Japan and South Korea, India is the only country planning a 30-day LPG reserve. The crisis arising from this war shows that this is our need of the hour.
India today has a strategic oil reserve of 5.33 million tonnes, and additional storage capacity is being developed at Chandikhol, Padur, and Bikaner under the second phase. These are not merely projects — they are preparations to keep the nation’s people safe from future crises. The ethanol blending policy has also provided great relief to the country in these difficult times. Due to 20 percent blending, India is able to save enormous amounts of foreign exchange. During the crisis, LPG demand was reduced by up to 70,000 to 75,000 tonnes per day through the alternative fuel system. These steps show that the government has prepared a path of security not just for today, but for the years to come.
The war is still ongoing. Difficult decisions may have to be taken in the times ahead. But the nation must not forget that when the entire world was under pressure, the Indian government did not leave its citizens alone. It fulfilled its responsibility like a guardian. Governments do not become great merely through plans and announcements — they become great by standing with their people in difficult times. During this global crisis, India has done exactly that.
This is why today the common citizen of the country is not merely feeling relief, but the confidence in their hearts has also been strengthened — that no matter how great the crisis, the nation stands by them. However, this crisis has not yet fully passed. The need of the hour also demands that the citizens of the country remain alert, restrained, and prepared for the challenges ahead. It is the duty of citizens to use energy economically and to patiently stand by the Indian government, which has become a shield amidst the global crisis.
(HiFe)
