InternationalFriday, 15 May 2026·The Hindu - Economy
India’s Russian crude imports and U.S. waiver expiry: key external affairs and energy facts
India’s Russian oil imports rose to about 1.96 million barrels per day in May as the U.S. waiver on Russian crude purchase was set to expire on May 16, 2026.
Key highlights
Direct fact
In May 2026, India’s oil imports from Moscow rose to about 1.96 million barrels per day, just days before the U.S. second waiver on Russian crude purchase was due to expire on 16 May 2026.
Key specifics
- U.S. second waiver on Russian crude purchase was set to expire on 16 May 2026.
- India’s imports from Moscow were reported at about 1.96 million barrels per day in May 2026.
- The issue was raised by External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar in the context of “unilateral” sanctions.
- The news links India’s energy security with sanctions policy and crude oil sourcing from Russia.
- The date marker in the report is May 2026, with the expiry date specifically given as 16 May.
Exam lens
Question type: International relations and energy security, date-based factual recall, India-Russia-U.S. linkage. TNPSC one-liner: remember the 16 May 2026 waiver expiry, 1.96 million barrels per day import figure, and Jaishankar’s criticism of unilateral sanctions.