No lockdown planned, Government assures amid West Asia crisis; fuel prices stabilised

March 27, 2026 12:22 PM

No lockdown planned, Government assures amid West Asia crisis; fuel prices stabilised

Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman and Union Petroleum and Natural Gas Minister Hardeep Singh Puri on Friday firmly dismissed rumours suggesting that India could impose a lockdown due to the ongoing West Asia crisis and potential fuel shortages. Reassuring citizens, FM Sitharaman stated that there is no proposal under consideration for any lockdown, calling such claims “baseless” and expressing concern over misinformation circulating in political discourse. “There shall not be any...

Hardeep Puri, FM Sitharaman hail PM Modi’s decision to ‘safeguard citizens’ with excise duty cut on petrol and diesel

March 27, 2026 12:13 PM

Hardeep Puri, FM Sitharaman hail PM Modi’s decision to ‘safeguard citizens’ with excise duty cut on petrol and diesel

Petroleum and Natural Gas Minister Hardeep Singh Puri and Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Friday welcomed the Centre’s decision to cut excise duties on petrol and diesel, describing it as a timely step to protect citizens from rising global energy prices. The remarks came a day after the government reduced excise duty on petrol and diesel, even as international crude oil prices surged sharply amid geopolitical tensions in West Asia. In a post on X, Puri said the government had chosen ...