PM Modi orders Cabinet to ensure common man's critical needs are met at crucial meet on Iran war

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday chaired a meeting of the Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) to review measures being taken amid the ongoing West Asia conflict, with focus on ensuring sufficient LPG supply and diversifying procurement from multiple countries.

Officials briefed that sources of LPG and LNG are being expanded with new inflows from different countries, while domestic LPG prices have remained unchanged. Anti-diversion drives are also being carried out to curb hoarding and black marketing.

The meeting reviewed steps to ensure stability in essential supplies, including fuel duty measures, power sector preparedness and logistics. Adequate coal stocks are in place to meet power demand in the coming months, while steps such as easing norms for gas-based plants and increasing coal supply to thermal stations have been undertaken.

Interventions across agriculture, fertilisers, shipping, aviation, logistics and MSMEs were discussed to mitigate emerging challenges. Efforts to maintain urea production and



coordinate with global suppliers for DAP and NPK fertilisers are underway, with states asked to act against hoarding and diversion.

Initiatives have also been taken to expand Piped Natural Gas connections. Measures such as exempting gas-based power plants with a capacity of 7-8 GW from the gas pooling mechanism and increasing the number of rakes to position more coal at thermal power stations have also been undertaken to ensure power availability during the peak summer months.

The government said retail prices of essential food items have remained stable over the past month, with control rooms set up for real-time monitoring and coordination with states under the Essential Commodities Act.

PM Modi also reviewed the availability of key essentials for citizens and stressed the need to safeguard them from the impact of the conflict. He emphasised timely dissemination of accurate information to prevent misinformation and directed departments to take all necessary steps to address challenges arising from the evolving global situation.