In News:

The ongoing geopolitical tensions in West Asia have raised concerns over disruptions in maritime trade routes, particularly through the Strait of Hormuz, a critical global energy transit corridor. For India, this development poses a significant risk to the supply of Liquefied Petroleum Gas, as a substantial portion of its imports transit through this route. In response, the Government of India has invoked emergency provisions to safeguard domestic LPG supplies for millions of households.

Government’s Emergency Measures

To mitigate potential supply disruptions, the government invoked powers under the Essential Commodities Act, 1955. The directive was issued under Section 3 of the Act and the Petroleum Products (Maintenance of Production, Storage and Supply) Order, 1999.

Key provisions of the emergency directive include:

• Domestic refiners must maximise LPG production.
• Propane and butane streams are to be used exclusively for LPG manufacturing.
• Refiners are prohibited from diverting these inputs to petrochemical production.
• All LPG produced must be supplied to public sector oil marketing companies (OMCs).

The three major OMCs responsible for distribution of LPG to households are:

• Indian Oil Corporation Limited
• Bharat Petroleum Corporation Limited
• Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Limited

These companies together supply cooking gas to more than 33 crore Indian households.

India’s LPG Demand–Supply Dynamics

India’s LPG demand has increased significantly due to expanding household consumption and welfare schemes such as the Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana.

Key statistics (2024–25):

• Total LPG consumption: ~31 million tonnes
• Domestic production: ~13 million tonnes
• Import dependence: ~58%

India imports most of its LPG from West Asian suppliers, including: Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, Qatar, and Kuwait

The strategic importance of the Strait of Hormuz is evident as it carries:

• ~80% of India’s LPG imports
• ~40% of crude oil imports
• More than 50% of LNG imports

Any disruption in this route therefore poses a major energy security risk for India.

Diversification of Energy Supply Sources

To reduce dependence on West Asian suppliers, India has begun diversifying import sources.

A recent agreement with the United States will supply approximately 2.2 million tonnes of LPG in 2026, accounting for around 10% of India’s annual LPG imports, sourced from the US Gulf Coast.

India is also coordinating with global commodity traders such as:

• Vitol
• Trafigura
• ADNOC Trading

These partnerships aim to secure additional energy cargoes from alternative markets.

Energy Security and Strategic Reserves

India maintains strategic petroleum reserves (SPR) to cushion against external supply shocks. Key storage facilities include:

• Visakhapatnam Strategic Petroleum Reserve
• Mangaluru Strategic Petroleum Reserve
• Padur Strategic Petroleum Reserve

Current estimates indicate:

• Crude oil stocks sufficient for about 25 days of refinery operations
• Strategic reserves covering approximately one week of national consumption
• Additional fuel stocks (petrol, diesel, LPG) sufficient for around 25 days of domestic demand

Impact on Natural Gas and LNG Supply

India’s vulnerability is more pronounced in the Liquefied Natural Gas sector, as LNG storage is technically challenging.

India is the world’s fourth-largest LNG importer. Supply disruptions have emerged as Petronet LNG Limited issued force majeure notices to its supplier QatarEnergy and domestic gas off-takers.

In case of shortages, the government may reprioritise natural gas allocation to critical sectors, including:

• City gas distribution (CNG and PNG)
• Fertiliser production
• Power generation

Challenges for India

India faces several structural challenges in ensuring energy security:

1. Limited domestic LPG production despite high refining capacity.
2. LNG storage constraints, making stockpiling difficult.
3. Price volatility in global energy markets during geopolitical crises.
4. Continued import dependence on West Asia.

Way Forward

To strengthen long-term resilience, India must adopt a multi-dimensional energy strategy:

• Diversification of imports from the US, Africa, and Latin America.
• Expansion of strategic petroleum reserves and LNG storage infrastructure.
• Enhancement of domestic exploration and refining efficiency.
• Transition toward alternative energy sources, including biogas, compressed biogas (CBG), electric cooking technologies, and green hydrogen.
• Strengthening maritime security and diplomatic coordination to protect sea lanes of communication (SLOCs).

Conclusion

The government’s decision to invoke emergency provisions reflects a proactive effort to safeguard India’s energy security during a volatile geopolitical situation. While short-term measures such as maximising domestic LPG production and diversifying imports provide immediate relief, long-term resilience will depend on energy diversification, stronger strategic reserves, and accelerated transition to cleaner fuels. Strengthening these pillars is essential to insulate India’s economy and households from future global energy shocks.

In News:

Migratory species are vital components of global biodiversity and play an important role in maintaining ecological balance across ecosystems. However, recent assessments indicate that many migratory species are facing growing threats due to human activities and environmental changes. The latest interim update to the State of the World’s Migratory Species Report warns that nearly half of the world’s migratory species populations are declining, highlighting the urgent need for stronger international conservation efforts.

About the State of the World’s Migratory Species Report

The State of the World’s Migratory Species Report is a global scientific assessment that evaluates the conservation status, population trends, and threats facing migratory animals worldwide. The report is prepared under the Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals (CMS), an international treaty established in 1979 under the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP). CMS provides a framework for international cooperation to conserve migratory wildlife and their habitats across national boundaries.

The first comprehensive global report was released in 2024, covering 1,189 species listed under CMS and analysing trends among more than 3,000 additional migratory species worldwide. The assessment relies on scientific data from sources such as the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List, population monitoring studies, and peer-reviewed scientific literature.

Importance of Migratory Species

Migratory species contribute significantly to ecosystem functioning and human livelihoods. Migratory birds help in pollination, seed dispersal, and pest control, while marine animals such as whales and fish support marine food chains and nutrient cycling. Large migratory mammals distribute nutrients across landscapes and influence vegetation patterns.

These species also hold economic and cultural importance, supporting tourism, food systems, and traditional practices in many regions. However, migration makes species highly vulnerable, as the loss of even a single habitat along their migration route can disrupt entire ecological networks. Effective conservation therefore requires coordinated action across multiple countries and ecosystems.

Major Findings of the Latest Report

1. Declining Populations of Migratory Species

The report highlights worrying global trends in migratory wildlife populations. Approximately 49% of migratory species protected under CMS are experiencing population declines, while about 24% face a risk of extinction. Compared to earlier assessments, the proportion of declining species has increased by around five percentage points within two years, indicating an accelerating conservation crisis. Out of the 1,189 CMS-listed species, about 582 species show declining population trends.

2. Rising Extinction Risks

The assessment also notes that 26 migratory species have moved to higher extinction-risk categories on the IUCN Red List. Among them, 18 species are migratory shorebirds, highlighting severe threats to coastal and wetland ecosystems. Species affected include birds such as cranes and pelicans, ungulates such as wildebeest, freshwater fish species, and marine animals including sharks, rays, and sea turtles.

3. Habitat Loss and Overexploitation

The report identifies habitat loss and overexploitation as the most significant threats to migratory species. Activities such as urban expansion, agricultural development, infrastructure construction, overfishing, and hunting have disrupted migratory routes and degraded critical habitats.

Large infrastructure projects such as roads, railways, pipelines, and fences are increasingly blocking migration corridors, particularly for large terrestrial mammals in regions such as Central Asia. Since migratory species depend on multiple habitats across countries, the destruction of even one site along their migration pathway can jeopardise their survival.

4. Emerging Threat of Avian Influenza

Another emerging threat highlighted in the report is Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (H5N1). Disease outbreaks have caused large-scale mortality events among several migratory bird populations and have even affected marine mammals. Species impacted include African Penguins, Humboldt Penguins, Peruvian Pelicans, and Red-crowned Cranes. Marine mammals such as the South American Sea Lion and South American Fur Seal have also been affected, indicating the growing ecological impacts of disease outbreaks.

Conservation Progress and Key Biodiversity Areas

Despite these concerning trends, the report identifies several conservation successes. Seven migratory species listed under CMS have shown improvements in conservation status, including the Saiga Antelope, Scimitar-horned Oryx, and the Mediterranean Monk Seal. These cases demonstrate that coordinated international conservation measures can effectively restore threatened species populations.

The report also highlights the significance of 9,372 Key Biodiversity Areas (KBAs) that serve as critical habitats for migratory species. However, 47% of these areas currently lack formal protection, making them vulnerable to human pressures and habitat degradation.

Conclusion

The State of the World’s Migratory Species Report underscores the growing conservation crisis facing migratory wildlife. Declining populations, rising extinction risks, habitat loss, overexploitation, and emerging diseases collectively threaten the survival of many species. Addressing these challenges requires strengthened international cooperation, protection of migratory corridors and key biodiversity areas, and sustainable management of ecosystems. Ensuring the conservation of migratory species is essential not only for preserving biodiversity but also for maintaining ecological balance and supporting human livelihoods across the globe.