Indian Oil Corporation said it has increased production of liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) and will prioritise supply for households and key services. The company said the step was taken due to global fuel supply concerns linked to current geopolitical tensions. “Steps have been taken to enhance LPG production and prioritise its availability for domestic consumers and essential sectors such as hospitals and educational institutions,” the company said. Indian Oil said requests from other sectors will be reviewed by a committee of executive directors from oil marketing companies. India imports most of its crude oil. Rising tensions in West Asia have raised fears of supply disruptions and pushed global oil prices higher. (PC: X)

IndiGo CEO Pieter Elbers has resigned with immediate effect, the airline’s parent company InterGlobe Aviation said on Tuesday. The move comes three months after the airline faced its worst flight crisis. Managing Director and co-founder Rahul Bhatia will lead the airline for now. In his resignation letter, Elbers said he was stepping down for personal reasons. “It has been both an honour and privilege to serve as IndiGo CEO,” he wrote. Elbers became CEO in September 2022. During his tenure, IndiGo expanded its fleet to more than 440 aircraft and crossed $10 billion in revenue. However, a December 2025 crisis led to over 2,500 flight cancellations and nearly 1,900 delays. (PC: HT)

The Centre has invoked the Essential Commodities Act, 1955, as global energy supplies face disruption after Iran closed the Strait of Hormuz during the conflict with the US. The law allows the government to regulate the production, supply and distribution of key goods such as fuel, food and medicines. Officials can also set stock limits and control prices to prevent hoarding. India has around 332 million LPG consumers, making stable supply critical for homes and businesses. The move follows reports of shortages of commercial LPG cylinders in some cities. Officials said the Act allows authorities to intervene when supply chains face disruption. Natural gas will be prioritised for PNG, CNG transport and LPG production.

The government on Tuesday said there is no shortage of LPG in the country and supplies have stabilised after recent concerns. Officials said oil refineries have increased LPG production by about 10% following earlier directions from authorities. All refineries are now running at full capacity to maintain supply. The government has also invoked provisions of the Essential Commodities Act to prevent hoarding and ensure proper distribution. The monitoring period for LPG supply has been extended from 21 days to 25 days. “There was a temporary concern, but the situation has been resolved now,” government sources said. Officials also urged people not to believe unverified claims on social media. (PC: India Today)

India’s cheetah population has crossed 50 after five cubs were born at Kuno National Park in Madhya Pradesh. Environment Minister Bhupender Yadav shared the update and called it an important moment for Project Cheetah. The cubs were born to Jwala, a cheetah brought from Namibia. She is now a third-time mother under the programme. With this birth, the number of Indian-born cubs has reached 33. Officials said this is the 10th successful cheetah litter in India. The total cheetah population in the country has now reached 53. Experts said repeated successful births show the animals are adapting well to the habitat. India started the cheetah reintroduction programme in 2022. (PC: India Today)

A sudden shortage of commercial LPG cylinders has created major concerns for restaurants across several Indian cities, including Bengaluru and Chennai, where hotel associations warned that eateries may suspend operations if supplies are not restored. The disruption comes amid rising global oil prices linked to ongoing tensions in West Asia, which have affected energy supply chains. Restaurant bodies say many kitchens depend entirely on commercial LPG and cannot operate without it. Meanwhile, reports of limited supplies have triggered panic among restaurants and gas agencies in Gurugram and Mumbai. The central government has directed oil refineries to increase LPG production while prioritising domestic household supply. (PC: AFP)

The National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT) has withdrawn its Class 8 Social Science textbook “Exploring Society: India and Beyond” (Part II) after controversy over a chapter discussing challenges in the judiciary. The chapter titled “The Role of Judiciary in Our Society” mentioned issues such as corruption, case backlogs, and shortage of judges, which sparked criticism and legal scrutiny. Following concerns raised in the Supreme Court, NCERT issued an “unconditional and unqualified apology” and halted the book’s distribution. Authorities ordered a complete ban on further printing and dissemination, and the council asked that all copies be withdrawn. NCERT said the inclusion of the content was an “error of judgement” and reaffirmed respect for constitutional institutions. 

Panic buying of cooking gas cylinders has been reported in several parts of India as the war involving Iran raises fears of supply disruptions through the strategic Strait of Hormuz. Long queues were seen outside LPG agencies in cities such as Noida, while some consumers reported buying cylinders on the black market for up to ₹1,500. However, the government has denied any nationwide shortage and said the country has adequate reserves. Petroleum Minister Hardeep Singh Puri assured that supplies remain stable, attributing the rush to panic bookings and temporary booking restrictions introduced to prevent hoarding.

Long queues formed outside LPG agencies in several parts of India as the Iran war raised fears of supply disruption. In some areas, people reported buying cylinders on the black market for up to Rs 1,500. Officials said there is no nationwide shortage of cooking gas in India. Government sources said the country has adequate LPG stocks and households should not panic. “India has sufficient LPG supplies and strategic reserves to manage the situation,” officials said. Bookings have risen by about 15–20% in some regions in recent days. Oil companies also increased the waiting period between bookings to control hoarding. Officials said India is exploring imports from other countries to ensure steady supply. (PC: India Today)

Oil prices rose above $100 per barrel as the Iran war disrupted supplies in West Asia. Brent crude climbed close to $120 before easing slightly. The rise followed attacks on oil facilities and disruptions near the Strait of Hormuz. India depends on imports for more than 88% of its crude oil needs. Officials said the immediate priority is ensuring steady fuel supply rather than focusing only on price. The Strait of Hormuz handles about one-fifth of global oil trade. Tanker traffic there has slowed sharply. Government sources said Indian refiners are increasing purchases from regions outside Hormuz. They also said stocks of crude oil, petrol, and diesel are rising as more shipments arrive. (PC: The Indian Express)