India’s crude oil import dependency hits record high, likely to rise further
India’s dependence on imported crude oil reached 88.2% in the first 11 months of the current financial year (FY25), surpassing last year’s levels and indicating a potential all-time high for the full fiscal year. Data from the Petroleum Planning & Analysis Cell (PPAC) of the oil ministry shows an increase from 87.7% in the same period of FY24 and 87.8% for the entire FY24.
The rising dependency on imports is driven by growing energy demands across sectors, including transportation, petrochemicals, and aviation, while domestic crude oil production remains stagnant. India’s oil import reliance has steadily increased over the years, except for FY21, when COVID-19 slowed demand.
Government efforts to reduce import dependency, including policy reforms and incentives for domestic oil exploration, have had limited success. The Oilfield (Regulatory and Development) Amendment Bill, recent biofuel blending initiatives, and electric mobility promotion have yet to significantly curb petroleum demand growth.
India imported 219.9 million tonnes of crude oil between April and February, up from 213.4 million tonnes in the same period last year. Meanwhile, domestic oil production declined to 26.2 million tonnes from 26.9 million tonnes. With domestic crude oil covering only 11.8% of total petroleum product consumption, self-sufficiency remains low.
The country’s crude oil import bill for the April-February period stood at $124.7 billion, a nearly 3% increase year-on-year. As the world’s third-largest consumer and a key importer of crude oil,
India’s demand is expected to continue rising, with petroleum product consumption projected to grow by 4.7% in FY26, reaching 252.93 million tonnes. Refinery capacity is set to expand further, with the country’s current capacity standing at nearly 257 million tonnes per annum.
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Jharkhand Education Minister Ramdas Soren passes away at 62
Ranchi, Aug 15 (PTI): Jharkhand Education Minister Ramdas Soren died on Friday, JMM national spokesperson Kunal Sarangi said.
He was 62.
Soren was undergoing treatment at a private hospital in Delhi, where he was admitted on August 2.
"State Education Minister Ramdas Soren, who was undergoing treatment at a hospital in Delhi, is no more," Sarangi told PTI.
Soren's condition was critical and he was on life support, Sarangi said.
The Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) leader was airlifted to the hospital in the national capital from Jamshedpur after he fell in the bathroom of his residence on August 2.
A multidisciplinary team of senior specialists was closely monitoring his condition and providing intensive medical care.
Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren condoled his death.
Hemant Soren, in a post on X, wrote, "Ramdas Da (brother) should not have left us like this. Last greetings to Dada..."
Ramdas Soren, born in Ghorabandha village in East Singhbhum district on January 1, 1963, began his political journey as the gram pradhan of the Ghorabanda panchayat, eventually rising to become one of the most influential ministers in the Hemant Soren-led cabinet.
He won the Ghatshila assembly seat for the third time in 2024 by defeating BJP's Babulal Soren, son of former chief minister Champai Soren.
ऐसे छोड़ कर नहीं जाना था रामदास दा...
— Hemant Soren (@HemantSorenJMM) August 15, 2025
अंतिम जोहार दादा... pic.twitter.com/5cKZkpIe9Z
