Mar 23, 2026 12:19 pm IST

Why The Current LPG Crisis Is More Than Just A 'Supply Chain' Hiccup

In 2013-14, India imported roughly 77% of its crude oil requirements. By 2025, rather than insulating ourselves, we saw that figure climb to over 85%.

Shashi Tharoor Shashi Tharoor Dr Shashi Tharoor is a two-time MP from Thiruvananthapuram, the Chairman of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on External Affairs, the former Union Minister of State for External Affairs and Human Resource Development and the former UN Under-Secretary-General. He has written 15 books, including, most recently, India Shastra: Reflections On the Nation in Our Time

Shashi Tharoor Dr Shashi Tharoor is a two-time MP from Thiruvananthapuram, the Chairman of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on External Affairs, the former Union Minister of State for External Affairs and Human Resource Development and the former UN Under-Secretary-General. He has written 15 books, including, most recently, India Shastra: Reflections On the Nation in Our Time

For decades, the blue flame of the LPG stove has been the quiet symbol of India's developmental progress. From the smoke-filled kitchens of the rural heartland to the high-rises of Mumbai, the transition to Liquefied Petroleum Gas was heralded as a victory for public health and women's empowerment. But in March 2026, that flame is flickering. As geopolitical tensions have effectively choked the Strait of Hormuz, the "energy security" we thought we had bought with global contracts has evaporated.

The current crisis is more than a supply chain hiccup. It is a fundamental wake-up call. India can no longer afford to tether its domestic stability to the volatile geography of the Persian Gulf. The only path to true sovereignty is a dramatic acceleration of solar energy production, a strategic expansion of nuclear power, and a decisive pivot away from the trap of imported fossil fuels.

A Strategic Liability

The numbers tell a story of deepening vulnerability. In 2013-14, India imported roughly 77% of its crude oil requirements. By 2025, rather than insulating ourselves, we saw that figure climb to over 85%. Liquefied........

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