Essential Commodities Act, 1955 invoked to protect domestic LPG supply

Direct fact

In March 2026, the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas invoked the Essential Commodities Act, 1955 to protect household LPG supplies amid commercial shortages in major Indian cities.

Key specifics

• The Essential Commodities Act, 1955 allows regulation of production, supply and distribution of essential goods.
• It empowers the government to prevent hoarding and direct companies to increase production during shortages.
• Refineries were told to maximise LPG output by diverting propane and butane away from industrial uses.
• Supplies of these streams were directed only to Indian Oil Corporation, Bharat Petroleum Corporation and Hindustan Petroleum Corporation.
• Brent crude was reported at $92.57 per barrel and WTI at $88.46 per barrel in the source report.

Exam lens

TNPSC may ask: law and governance, Essential Commodities Act, 1955, LPG supply control, IOC-BPCL-HPCL. One-liner: The Act is used when the State must secure essential supplies and curb hoarding.