India rolls out 60-day PDS kerosene plan to ease LPG pressure
India rolls out 60-day PDS kerosene plan to ease LPG pressure
India launches a 60-day emergency PDS kerosene allocation to ease LPG pressure and boost fuel supplies amid Hormuz tensions, with tax cuts and export levies to stabilise prices.
The Centre has announced a 60-day emergency move to reintroduce Public Distribution System kerosene for household use, delivering a targeted support measure to ease pressure on cooking gas LPG. The plan covers 21 states and Union Territories that had previously been SKO-free, enabling households facing LPG constraints to access an essential fuel option for cooking and lighting.
The kerosene will be allocated for household use and reintroduced temporarily to ensure basic domestic requirements are met during the period of heightened LPG demand. This delivery is intended as a stopgap to maintain household energy security while supply lines adapt to shifting consumption patterns and external pressures.
In parallel with the kerosene rollout, the government has taken steps to bolster overall fuel availability. Petrol and diesel excise duties will be cut by ₹10 per litre, and export levies have been imposed on diesel (₹21.50 per litre) and aviation turbine fuel (ATF) at ₹29.50 per litre. These moves aim to temper rising domestic prices and improve access to fuel across sectors during a period of global volatility.
The policy actions come amid concerns over global crude prices driven by tensions in West Asia and potential disruptions in Hormuz, which have pressured energy markets. Authorities note that LPG supply has remained relatively stable so far despite a surge in demand, underscoring the importance of contingency planning and swift policy responses.
Together, the kerosene allocation and the fiscal and regulatory measures are designed to shield households from shocks, ensuring that basic energy needs—cooking and lighting—are met while the country navigates a complex energy landscape.
