Defence Minister Rajnath Singh chaired the first meeting of the Informal Group of Ministers (IGoM) on Saturday, March 28, 2026, at Kartavya Bhawan-2 in New Delhi. The meeting was organized to assess the conflict in West Asia and its potential impact on India’s economy and energy security. The government is focusing on a proactive and coordinated response to ensure that supply chains remain robust and essential commodities are available for the public.
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What decisions were taken regarding fuel prices and essential supplies?
The government has taken significant steps to protect consumers from the rising costs of fuel due to the global situation. The special additional excise duty on petrol was reduced to 3 rupees per litre, and the duty on diesel was cut to nil. These changes were made effective immediately following an emergency review. The Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas confirmed that refineries are operating at high capacity and sufficient stocks of crude and LPG are being maintained to prevent any shortage.
Additionally, the government notified the Natural Gas and Petroleum Products Distribution Order, 2026, under the Essential Commodities Act. This order is designed to streamline pipeline development and expansion to ensure fuel reaches every part of the country without interruption. Ministries have also been instructed to share verified updates through official channels to prevent the spread of misinformation regarding the crisis.
Who attended the meeting and what is the plan for expats?
The IGoM meeting involved several senior cabinet members and the Foreign Secretary. Seven Empowered Groups of Secretaries presented detailed reports on infrastructure resilience and risk assessment. It was noted that approximately 5 lakh passengers have already returned to India from the West Asia region. Defence Minister Rajnath Singh emphasized the importance of swift decision-making and long-term preparedness to safeguard Indian citizens living abroad and those traveling frequently to the Gulf.
| Name of the Minister | Ministry Portfolio |
|---|---|
| Nirmala Sitharaman | Finance and Corporate Affairs |
| Hardeep Singh Puri | Petroleum and Natural Gas |
| Kiren Rijiju | Parliamentary Affairs |
| Manohar Lal | Power |
| Jagat Prakash Nadda | Chemicals and Fertilizers |
| Prahlad Joshi | Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution |
| Kinjarapu Rammohan Naidu | Civil Aviation |
| Dr Jitendra Singh | Science and Technology (MoS IC) |
