The escalating military conflict between Iran and Israel has started casting a long shadow over Indian households. In a bid to manage the looming Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) shortage triggered by global supply disruptions, the Central Government has announced stricter norms for domestic cylinder bookings. To ensure equitable distribution and prevent panic buying, the mandatory time gap between two consecutive cylinder refills has been significantly increased.

According to the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas, the ongoing tensions in the Persian Gulf have made maritime transport of fuel increasingly difficult and time-consuming. Since India imports a vast majority of its LPG from the Middle East, the detour of cargo ships has led to a dip in immediate buffer stocks. Under the new protocol, consumers who previously could book a refill after 15 days will now have to wait for 21 to 25 days, depending on their consumer category.

The government has urged citizens not to panic, emphasizing that the country has sufficient strategic reserves for the near future. The move is described as a “pre-emptive stabilization measure” to discourage hoarding by commercial entities using domestic quotas. However, the decision has raised concerns among middle-class families regarding potential black-marketing and future price hikes. Oil marketing companies (IOCL, HPCL, BPCL) have been instructed to strictly adhere to the new booking window until further notice.