India has stepped up supply of smaller 5-kg LPG cylinders and accelerated the rollout of piped natural gas (PNG) connections to manage fuel availability amid disruptions caused by the Middle East conflict, with domestic supplies remaining stable, according to an official statement.More than 13 lakh 5-kg free trade LPG cylinders have been sold since March 23, with daily sales crossing 1 lakh units, as authorities expand access for migrant workers and low-income consumers, PTI reported.At the same time, over 4.24 lakh new PNG connections have been activated since March, with more than 30,000 consumers surrendering LPG connections as part of the transition.The six-week-long war in West Asia has disrupted global energy supply. India relied on import of half of its crude oil, 40 per cent of its gas and 85-90 per cent of LPG from the region, all of which have been impacted.While the country has managed to offset the shortfall in crude oil by sourcing from other regions, LPG supplies have been affected.The government has prioritised LPG supply to domestic households, reducing supplies to commercial users such as hotels and restaurants. To bridge the gap for those without subsidised LPG connections, it has increased supply of market-priced 5-kg cylinders.As against daily sales of about 77,000 5-kg cylinders in February before the crisis, volumes have crossed over 1 lakh per day in the last two to three weeks.The statement said domestic LPG supplies remain stable overall, with no reported stockouts and over 52 lakh cylinders delivered on April 11.Online bookings account for about 98 per cent of demand, while delivery authentication systems now cover 93 per cent of transactions to curb diversion.Commercial LPG availability has been restored to about 70 per cent of pre-crisis levels, supported by targeted allocations and increased supply measures. State-run oil marketing companies — Indian Oil Corporation, Bharat Petroleum Corporation Limited and Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Limited — are coordinating with state governments to streamline distribution.The government has prioritised natural gas allocation, ensuring full supply for household PNG and CNG transport, while increasing supplies to fertiliser plants to about 95 per cent of recent average consumption, aided by additional LNG imports.City gas distributors, including Indraprastha Gas Ltd, Mahanagar Gas Ltd, and GAIL Gas Ltd, have been directed to prioritise PNG connections for commercial users, as part of a broader push to shift demand away from LPG.Refineries are operating at high utilisation with adequate crude inventories, and domestic LPG production has been stepped up. To shield consumers from rising global oil prices, the government has cut excise duty on petrol and diesel by Rs 10 per litre, while raising export levies on diesel and aviation turbine fuel to ensure domestic availability, the statement added.

With the production-linked incentive (PLI) scheme now over, India’s electronics industry has pitched a fresh expansion plan, seeking continued government support as it eyes a strong jump in manufacturing and exports over the next five years. During discussions with the ministry of electronics and IT (MeitY), the industry said that by FY31, India could capture 30–35% of global mobile production. This would take annual output to $110–130 billion, with exports estimated at $55–70 billion. At present, according to ET, India accounts for about 15% of global mobile phone production, with manufacturing output exceeding $64 billion. Industry executives said the current production-linked incentive (PLI) scheme has played a key role in this growth. With the scheme set to end on March 31, companies are pushing for a new version to keep the momentum going. Talks are underway on a proposed PLI 2.0 scheme, which is likely to run from 2026 to 2031. Government officials said a new incentive programme is being considered, though details have not yet been finalised. The industry has also shared a roadmap with the government to meet production and export targets by FY31. “With a strong foundation, we have an opportunity to achieve 30-35% of global mobile production in the next five years,” Pankaj Mohindroo, chairman of India Cellular and Electronics Association (ICEA), told ET. “To realise this ambition, it is critical to sustain the current momentum and continue investments. We are actively engaging with the government to shape the next phase of this growth journey.” Industry players said increasing India’s global share would help strengthen the supply chain, deepen the manufacturing ecosystem and support research and development at scale. One executive said scale is more important than value addition alone for long-term sustainability. The government is also examining how much domestic value addition should be required for incentives and how exports can be increased without breaching World Trade Organization norms. Experts said the growth in production will depend largely on exports, as domestic demand is expected to weaken. India’s smartphone market could shrink by more than 13% this year due to rising memory costs, which may push device prices up by 15–40%, according to an earlier report. Data from the commerce ministry showed smartphone exports rose 47.4%, from $20.44 billion in 2024 to $30.13 billion in 2025. The United States accounted for $19.7 billion, or 65% of total exports. Meanwhile, China’s smartphone exports fell from $132.6 billion to $120.6 billion during the same period, with shipments to the US declining sharply due to fentanyl-related tariffs. India’s tariff advantage in the US market has narrowed after the US Supreme Court struck down sweeping global tariffs imposed by the Trump administration. China continues to have an advantage due to its strong supply chain and advanced manufacturing capabilities, while India is still developing these.