India’s LPG crisis is the wake-up call it cannot ignore

India is staring at an energy reality it can no longer ignore. The gas crisis of 2026, marked by liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) shortages, volatile liquefied natural gas (LNG) prices, and soaring import bills, is not a temporary disruption. It is a structural warning. For a country aiming to sustain high economic growth and emerge as a global manufacturing hub, energy insecurity is not just an inconvenience; it is a strategic risk. The real question is no longer whether India should act, but how quickly it can pivot toward self-reliance.

The numbers tell a troubling story. India’s crude oil import dependence has reached a staggering 88.6%, with domestic production unable to keep pace with rising demand. LNG imports are projected to hit 28 million metric tonnes (MMT)-29 MMT this year, even as domestic gas production meets barely half of the requirement. Meanwhile, energy demand is expected to triple by 2047.