During Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s four-hour-long meeting with his Council of Ministers on Thursday evening, the energy crisis triggered by the Middle East war was a prominent concern. The Prime Minister urged his ministers to urgently explore alternative energy sources.
The US-Israel war on Iran and the continued blockade of the Strait of Hormuz have disrupted India’s fuel supplies from the Gulf. In this context, the Prime Minister has called for exploring energy alternatives beyond conventional ones. He also advocated for biogas as a substitute for LPG cooking gas.
The Prime Minister further called upon his ministers to implement reforms with vigour, emphasizing that Viksit Bharat 2047 was not merely a promise but a commitment.
The Council of Ministers meeting took place following the Prime Minister’s return from a five-nation tour, which began in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). India and the UAE signed a crucial agreement on petroleum reserves, under which UAE’s Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (ADNOC) will boost India’s petroleum reserves. An agreement on LPG supply was also concluded.
The Middle East crisis has directly impacted Indian consumers, with petrol and diesel prices increasing by approximately Rs 3 per litre to offset losses incurred by Oil Marketing Companies.
Prime Minister Modi has consistently stressed the importance of reducing fuel consumption, appealing to citizens to switch to electric vehicles and public transport whenever possible. He has also urged citizens to cut down on spending on gold and foreign travel to preserve India’s foreign exchange reserves.
Nine departments presented before the Prime Minister and the Council of Ministers, including Agriculture, Forestry, Labour, Road Transport, Corporate Affairs, External Affairs, Commerce, and Power, sources informed NDTV.
The Prime Minister also highlighted the need to simplify government functioning and ensure that public interest remains the foremost priority across all ministries.
Sources revealed that PM Modi instructed ministers to communicate the government’s 12-year journey, welfare initiatives, and reform agenda directly to the people.
The meeting also featured a presentation on the achievements and reforms implemented over the past 12 years. Ministries had previously submitted detailed reports to the Cabinet Secretariat outlining reforms undertaken in the last two years and future policy plans.
External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar also briefed the Council of Ministers on the government’s recent five-nation diplomatic outreach.
This was the first full meeting of the Council of Ministers in nearly eleven months, with the last one held on June 4 last year.
The high-level meeting occurs amidst speculation of a possible cabinet reshuffle before June 9, when PM Modi’s government completes 12 years and two years of its third term.
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