Following earlier government assurances on LPG supplies amid West Asia conflict fears, Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman reiterated steady availability during a Rajya Sabha discussion on supplementary grants. She detailed ramped-up domestic production and imports through the Strait of Hormuz, as opposition MPs raised shortage impacts on temples and livelihoods.
The Rajya Sabha on Tuesday discussed and passed the Appropriation Bill 2026, enabling withdrawal of additional funds from the Consolidated Fund of India. Responding to supplementary grants queries, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman addressed LPG concerns, noting that nearly 65% of India's needs are imported, with 90% via the Strait of Hormuz. She stated, “There are enough reports on how we are ensuring a steady flow during these turbulent times … not only are there steady streams of shipping lines coming in, but domestically we have also ramped up the capacity for production of the LPG, diverting from other hydrocarbon material to LPG production … domestic LPG production is going up about 25 per cent.”
Opposition members highlighted impacts: Congress's Rajeev Shukla cited kitchens at Varanasi’s Annapurna temple shutting down; Shiv Sena (UBT)’s Sanjay Raut noted reduced prasad at Shirdi and Mumbai vada pav sales dropping from 20 lakh to 5 lakh daily. TMC’s Saket Gokhale questioned the Rs 4.13 lakh crore supplementary grants and Rs 1 lakh crore economic stabilisation fund.
Sitharaman also mentioned an additional Rs 19,230 crore fertiliser subsidy for Rabi crop needs. Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chauhan replied on rural development schemes.
