The Centre has relaxed petroleum safety and licensing norms to enable wider distribution of kerosene, allowing its sale through select petrol pumps for a limited period, according to a Gazette notification issued on March 29.
The Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas has permitted public sector oil marketing companies to allocate Public Distribution System (PDS) superior kerosene oil (SKO) across 21 states and Union Territories, including Delhi, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh and Gujarat, where kerosene supply had been phased out.
Under the revised norms, designated petrol pumps will be allowed to store and dispense kerosene to households for cooking and lighting purposes. Each outlet can stock up to 5,000 litres, with up to two such service stations identified per district by state governments and Union Territory administrations.
The notification also grants exemptions from certain provisions of the Petroleum Rules, 2002, easing licensing requirements for dealers and transport vehicles handling kerosene. The move is aimed at speeding up storage, movement and last-mile delivery amid disruptions to global energy supplies caused by prevailing geopolitical tensions.
Officials said the decision was taken in view of the ongoing global crisis impacting fuel availability, with the government seeking to ensure access to essential energy sources for households. Oil marketing companies have also been permitted to stock kerosene at existing retail outlets to facilitate quicker distribution through the established fuel network.
Safety and operational guidelines issued by the Petroleum and Explosives Safety Organisation will continue to apply to all designated outlets. The relaxations have come into immediate effect and will remain valid for 60 days, or until further orders.
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Saturday stressed the need for medium- to long-term preparedness and faster decision-making to manage the impact of the evolving West Asia crisis, while chairing the first meeting of the Informal Group of Ministers (IGoM) set up to monitor the situation.
The meeting was attended by senior ministers, including Nirmala Sitharaman, Kiren Rijiju, Hardeep Singh Puri, Manohar Lal Khattar and J P Nadda, among others. Presentations by seven Empowered Groups of Secretaries outlined sector-specific challenges and policy measures already in place.
The IGoM took stock of risks to energy supplies, availability of essential commodities, infrastructure resilience and supply chains, with Singh calling for a proactive and coordinated approach amid the evolving situation.