The Iran war has triggered an LPG supply crunch in India, forcing restaurants in cities like Mumbai, Bengaluru, Chennai and Kolkata to shut or cut operations. The disruption is linked to tensions around the Strait of Hormuz, through which nearly 85–90% of India’s LPG imports pass. India imports over 60% of its LPG needs, making supplies vulnerable to geopolitical shocks. Hotel bodies say commercial LPG supplies have nearly stopped in several cities, with many eateries running out of cylinders. In Mumbai, about 20% of restaurants have already shut. Many restaurants are reducing menus and operating hours as the government prioritises LPG supply for households and essential sectors. (PC: India Today)

Air India said it will introduce higher fuel surcharges in phases after aviation turbine fuel (ATF) prices surged due to tensions in West Asia. The airline said ATF makes up about 40% of operating costs and prices have risen since early March due to supply disruptions. From March 12, a surcharge of ₹399 will apply on domestic and SAARC routes. International routes will see increases of $10 for West Asia, $20 for Southeast Asia and $30 for Africa. From March 18, long-haul routes will see higher charges. Europe flights will add $25, while North America and Australia routes will add $50. Air India said the revised surcharge will apply only to new bookings. (PC: News18)

IndiGo Managing Director Rahul Bhatia has written to employees after CEO Pieter Elbers resigned, assuring staff that he will lead the airline during the transition. In an internal mail, Bhatia said, “Main hoon na,” in a message seen as reassurance to employees. He also referred to the airline’s major disruption in December, when mass flight delays and cancellations affected thousands of passengers. “What happened last December should never have taken place,” Bhatia wrote. He thanked employees, especially frontline staff, for handling the crisis. “Our customers didn’t deserve it, nor did all of you,” he said. The aviation regulator had later fined IndiGo over ₹22 crore after an inquiry found problems in crew planning, software systems, and operational oversight. (PC: NDTV)

Women’s groups and several organisations staged a protest in Fatehabad, Haryana, demanding an immediate rollback of the recent increase in cooking gas prices. The demonstration was led by Jangir Kaur, district head of the All India Democratic Women’s Association (AIDWA). Protesters submitted a 20-point memorandum to the Chief Minister through the Naib Tehsildar, raising concerns about the rising cost of LPG and its impact on household budgets. The memorandum also included broader demands related to women’s social, economic and political empowerment. Activists called for stronger implementation of women’s rights laws, reservation in local bodies, and stricter action against crimes committed against women. (PC: X)

Indian Oil Corporation said it has increased production of liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) and will prioritise supply for households and key services. The company said the step was taken due to global fuel supply concerns linked to current geopolitical tensions. “Steps have been taken to enhance LPG production and prioritise its availability for domestic consumers and essential sectors such as hospitals and educational institutions,” the company said. Indian Oil said requests from other sectors will be reviewed by a committee of executive directors from oil marketing companies. India imports most of its crude oil. Rising tensions in West Asia have raised fears of supply disruptions and pushed global oil prices higher. (PC: X)

IndiGo CEO Pieter Elbers has resigned with immediate effect, the airline’s parent company InterGlobe Aviation said on Tuesday. The move comes three months after the airline faced its worst flight crisis. Managing Director and co-founder Rahul Bhatia will lead the airline for now. In his resignation letter, Elbers said he was stepping down for personal reasons. “It has been both an honour and privilege to serve as IndiGo CEO,” he wrote. Elbers became CEO in September 2022. During his tenure, IndiGo expanded its fleet to more than 440 aircraft and crossed $10 billion in revenue. However, a December 2025 crisis led to over 2,500 flight cancellations and nearly 1,900 delays. (PC: HT)

The Centre has invoked the Essential Commodities Act, 1955, as global energy supplies face disruption after Iran closed the Strait of Hormuz during the conflict with the US. The law allows the government to regulate the production, supply and distribution of key goods such as fuel, food and medicines. Officials can also set stock limits and control prices to prevent hoarding. India has around 332 million LPG consumers, making stable supply critical for homes and businesses. The move follows reports of shortages of commercial LPG cylinders in some cities. Officials said the Act allows authorities to intervene when supply chains face disruption. Natural gas will be prioritised for PNG, CNG transport and LPG production.

The government on Tuesday said there is no shortage of LPG in the country and supplies have stabilised after recent concerns. Officials said oil refineries have increased LPG production by about 10% following earlier directions from authorities. All refineries are now running at full capacity to maintain supply. The government has also invoked provisions of the Essential Commodities Act to prevent hoarding and ensure proper distribution. The monitoring period for LPG supply has been extended from 21 days to 25 days. “There was a temporary concern, but the situation has been resolved now,” government sources said. Officials also urged people not to believe unverified claims on social media. (PC: India Today)

India’s cheetah population has crossed 50 after five cubs were born at Kuno National Park in Madhya Pradesh. Environment Minister Bhupender Yadav shared the update and called it an important moment for Project Cheetah. The cubs were born to Jwala, a cheetah brought from Namibia. She is now a third-time mother under the programme. With this birth, the number of Indian-born cubs has reached 33. Officials said this is the 10th successful cheetah litter in India. The total cheetah population in the country has now reached 53. Experts said repeated successful births show the animals are adapting well to the habitat. India started the cheetah reintroduction programme in 2022. (PC: India Today)

A sudden shortage of commercial LPG cylinders has created major concerns for restaurants across several Indian cities, including Bengaluru and Chennai, where hotel associations warned that eateries may suspend operations if supplies are not restored. The disruption comes amid rising global oil prices linked to ongoing tensions in West Asia, which have affected energy supply chains. Restaurant bodies say many kitchens depend entirely on commercial LPG and cannot operate without it. Meanwhile, reports of limited supplies have triggered panic among restaurants and gas agencies in Gurugram and Mumbai. The central government has directed oil refineries to increase LPG production while prioritising domestic household supply. (PC: AFP)