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The Print
03-07-2025
- Business
- The Print
With 77 days of oil stockpile, India prepared for any disruption in Strait of Hormuz, says Hardeep Puri
The minister added, 'India is now a major exporter and producer of oil. It has a strategic reserve of about 77 days. Oil companies themselves hold reserves of crude oil.' 'Roughly 24 percent of global energy passes through the Strait of Hormuz. We [India] consumes around 5.6 million barrels of crude oil per day…Out of this, around 1.5 million barrels to 2 million barrels of oil to India comes from the Strait of Hormuz,' Puri said, while speaking at the sixteenth foundation day of the think-tank India Foundation, at the Leela. New Delhi: India is well prepared to weather the closure of the Strait of Hormuz or disruption to the flow of oil from West Asia, said Hardeep Singh Puri, the Minister of Petroleum and Natural Gas Wednesday. The Union Minister downplayed any fears of price spikes, given that there is enough supply of crude oil globally today. In the 2023-2024 financial year, India exported $83.4 billion worth of petroleum products, which is one of its largest exports to the global markets, according to the Ministry of Commerce and Industry. In the 2024-2025 financial year, exports of petroleum products fell by around 25 percent to about $62.5 billion. The 12-day conflict between Israel and Iran raised fears that Tehran would attempt to close the choke point in global energy trade—the Strait of Hormuz. The Iranian Parliament even voted on a resolution calling for the closure of the Strait, however, the Supreme National Council did not take any decision on the resolution before both countries agreed to a ceasefire. The closure of the Strait is one of the scenarios policy planners have been dealing with for nearly five decades, Puri pointed out. However, despite the consistent what-ifs, the Strait has never been closed. The closest it came was during the Iran-Iraq war in the 1980s. The two countries attacked at least 451 ships by 1987, in an attempt to economically hurt the other. 'Even if Hormuz closes, we are adequately prepared' asserted Puri. The Union Minister added a closure of the Strait would likely not last for an extremely long time, and in the event that it does, there are enough 'alternative suppliers' in the market. Also read: Crude oil prices to freight rates: How Iran's chokehold on Strait of Hormuz impacts India India's refining capacity to grow India is currently the 'fourth largest' refiner of crude oil in the world, with a goal to only grow and double the current capacity as early as possible, Puri noted. 'We have in place 270million metric tonnes per annum to refine. Can take it up to 310 million metric tonnes per annum…The Prime Minister has set a further target of expanding the capacity to 400 million metric tonnes as soon as possible,' said Puri. 'India could become a regional hub for refining,' Puri pointed out, while explaining that in future, there will likely be major consolidation of refineries depending on how the global situation evolves. Furthermore, with India's current growth trajectory, its energy needs are set to largely increase. Puri noted that in the next two decades, roughly 25 percent of the increase in global demand for energy is set to come from India. The economy of the country is set to continue its growth trajectory of roughly 6.5 percent a year, which adds to its overall energy consumption. However, currently there is no fear that there will be a shortage of supply of crude oil to India in particular, despite its growing need. 'Prices will not rise even if the Strait of Hormuz is closed because today there is more oil available in the world than ever before…Even with continuing tensions I don't see prices shooting up,' said Puri. He further added that there is more oil available today from the Western Hemisphere than previously. Roughly $14 billion worth of energy goods was purchased from the US the last financial year by India, plus the availability of oil from Guyana, for example, all offer India a certain energy security. Puri, highlighted that the exploration and production of oil and natural gas in India has the potential to grow considerably. 'My oft repeated, yet to be challenged assertion is that there are many Guyanas to be found,' said Puri. (Edited by Zinnia Ray Chaudhuri) Also Read: Why Fordow, Natanz & Isfahan facilities struck by US are critical to Iran's nuclear ambitions
The Print
24-06-2025
- Politics
- The Print
Dhankhar invokes Savarkar's realism, backs national interest as India's international diplomacy compass
'Browsing through the pages of New World, I felt the imprint of Vinayak Damodar Savarkar in the author's thought… Savarkar, despite all the untenable misgivings in extremity, remains a celebrated thinker…,' Dhankhar said. At the launch of the book 'New World: 21st Century Global Order in India', authored by senior RSS leader & India Foundation president Ram Madhav, Dhankhar said he saw a Savarkarite lens in the author's worldview. New Delhi: Vice-President Jagdeep Dhankhar Monday recalled Vinayak Damodar Savarkar who had said that global politics is dictated by realism and self-interest, not morality or solidarity. 'Savarkar, a staunch realist, believed in a post-war world where nations would act only in pursuit of their own interests not based on idealism, morality or international solidarity. Imagine how prophetic he has been. Look around—last fortnight, last 3 months. All this has been seen by all of us,' he said. He also echoed Savarkar's critique of Western institutions, saying the nationalist leader had rejected 'pacifist or utopian internationalism' and 'emphasised that India must safeguard its sovereignty through strength, not by relying on Western-dominated institutions like the League of Nations or later the United Nations, both ignoring due place to one-sixth of humanity.' Also read: 'Picture of ideal democracy': Mohan Bhagwat praises political unity post-Pahalgam, calls for self-reliance 'Strengthening Bharat is the governing philosophy today' In a strong endorsement of the Modi government's worldview, Dhankhar said: 'Friends, today, strengthening Bharat is the governing philosophy and resolve of this government. It is steadfast, firm, non-negotiable, and notwithstanding the critics—it is spinally strong.' 'Let us not be misguided by the distraction—who said what. The government, and India and its people, stand firmly for the nation—nation first and our nationalism… Those who take a stand for momentary situations are not in the psyche or groove of Bharat. Once we attain strength inwards, we can shape our strategic environment outwards,' he added. Backing Ram Madhav's thesis in the book, he said, 'I couldn't agree more with the lamentations of the author Dr. Ram Madhav. He highlights a perpetual decline of global multilateralism and prescribes India to give up romanticism and focus on economic growth.' 'George Tanham was wrong—India's strategic thought is deep-rooted' The Vice-President also took on longstanding Western criticisms about India's lack of strategic culture. 'George Tanham, an American thinker, 3 decades ago, in a treatise effectively suggested that there is absence of a strategic thinking in India on account of its Hindu philosophical roots and there were takers of it. But with Shri Ram Madhav's volume, George Tanham stands corrected. He couldn't be more wrong,' Dhankhar said. He added: 'The principle 'Rajadharma' (ethical statecraft) and 'Dharmayudha' (just war) in Mahabharata; Dhamma diplomacy in Ashokan edicts; and the Mandala Theory of Kautilya are all examples of theorising strategic environments—all feast to the intellect. These philosophies have ever been relevant, but in our contemporaneous challenging times, these are the needs of the global order.' 'India must re-strategise for a shifting global order'—Ram Madhav Speaking to the media after the launch, author Ram Madhav said the world is shifting away from the liberal international order formed post-World War II, and India must reorient its strategy to keep pace. 'We are moving away from the international liberal order that was created some 75 years ago. We are entering into a new kind of world,' he said. He cited the emergence of China and the rising importance of smaller nations like Turkey. 'In our recent clash with Pakistan, we not only talked about Pakistan, but also about Turkey. So, the realisation is Turkey is also a power today,' he said. Madhav pointed out that wars are now being fought in unconventional ways—'no army is facing each other'—and that India must adapt quickly if it wants to become a Viksit Bharat by 2047. 'India has to re-strategise its whole future trajectory…That means doing some very important things and becoming a very proactive participant in this new order,' he said. He added that international diplomacy must now be grounded in national interest, not ideological loyalty. 'In politics and diplomacy, there are no permanent friends and no permanent foes…That was a romantic approach of the past. There are only permanent interests.' He also emphasised India's message to global institutions, saying, 'India has told the UN leadership that you are not delivering…you are failing. If you fail, we have to look for other ways…other countries will have to come forward.' Underscoring New Delhi's diplomatic positioning amid global conflicts, Madhav said: 'India is not taking sides, India is fighting—or is working—for peace.' Trump, Iran bombing, China, Kargil 2.0—a volatile new world The backdrop to Monday's discussion was a rapidly evolving geopolitical landscape. Tensions in West Asia have intensified in recent months, with the long-simmering Iran-Israel conflict spilling over into open confrontation. The US, a key Israeli ally, has become directly involved following a series of escalations, including Iranian missile strikes and retaliatory US airstrikes on Iranian military targets—marking a significant deepening of the regional conflict. Congress MP Manish Tewari, who also spoke at the event, listed these global crises while framing the shifts in strategic thinking. 'There are unprecedented trade tensions across the world triggered by President Trump's attempt to restructure the international architecture of commerce. The Russia-Ukraine war that began in February of 2022, the Israel-Hamas-Hezbollah-Houthi-Iran conflict that broke out in October of 2023, and the rise of China over the past three decades that has attained potential overtones in large parts of the world beyond the immediate Chinese realms in North Asia, Southeast Asia, and South Asia. The added dynamic is the latest India-Pakistan standoff, the worst after the Kargil war 26 years ago, and now the US bombing of Iran. Modern strategic thought is essentially a European construct because of the experimentation with ideas and the impulses of colonialism,' Tewari said. 'Democracy means dialogue' Spealing about the 'sarve bhavantu sukhinah, sarve santu niramayah' philosophy, Dhankhar said, 'Friends, even the Fabian socialists of the 50s cannot disagree with the direction of the country as we strive to attain. And what do we strive to attain? We are not creating Bharat, it was not born on 15 August, 1947. We only got rid of the colonial power then. 'Sarve bhavantu sukhinah, sarve santu niramayah'—that is our philosophy. May all beings be happy, may all beings be free from illness.' Adding to this philosophical dimension, Dhankhar underlined the centrality of expression and dialogue to India's democratic ethos. 'We firmly believe that democracy is primarily defined by expression and dialogue. Both are complementary. This, in our Vedic philosophy, is anantavada. One of the fundamentals is, and that is inalienable facet, non-negotiable, respect the others' point of view. My own experience shows, more often than not, the other point of view is the correct point of view.' Cautioning against internal division, Dhankhar urged political dialogue and maturity. 'Friends, the pathway to Bharat's rise would require careful treading. There are forces that are determined to make our life difficult. There are forces within the country and outside. These sinister forces, pernicious to our interests, want to strike by dividing us on issues even like language,' he said. 'Which country in the world can take pride in their language richness like Bharat can? Look at our classical languages, their number. In parliament, 22 such languages allow and afford opportunity for anyone to express in them.' 'It would require many such thinkers to come together and debate and discuss challenges and opportunities and aid policymakers in making right strategic choices. Evolution of policies must take place now with a little more representative character.' Calling for political convergence, Dhankhar concluded that 'convergence' is required. 'There has to be greater dialogue among political parties. I firmly believe we have no enemies in the country. We have enemies outside. And some who are enemies within—a small fraction—they are rooted in outside forces, inimical to Bharat.' (Edited by Zinnia Ray Chaudhuri) Also read: Savarkar severely criticised RSS for its 'purely cultural' orientation
India Gazette
08-05-2025
- Politics
- India Gazette
Our Prime Minister exemplified Kautilya's philosophy in action: Vice-President Dhankhar
New Delhi [India], May 8 (ANI): Vice-President Jagdeep Dhankhar on Thursday drew a striking parallel between Prime Minister Narendra Modi's leadership and the ancient wisdom of Kautilya (Chanakya), the legendary strategist and author of the Arthashastra, and said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi has exemplified Kautilya's philosophy in action. Speaking at a public forum, Dhankhar said, 'Our Prime Minister has exemplified in action Kautilya's philosophy. Kautilya's thought process is a treatise in governance, virtually encyclopedic for every facet of governance--statecraft, security, role of the king--now those elected. In our multipolar world of shifting alliances.' 'We had a concept--fly-by-night concept. Same can be seen with the alliances. Kautilya imagined then that this will be ever shifting. Let me quote Kautilya: 'A neighboring state is an enemy, and enemy's enemy is a friend.' Which country knows better than Bharat? We always believe in global peace, global fraternity, and global welfare,' he added. Interacting with the Kautilya fellows from the India Foundation in New Delhi, Dhankhar said, 'Our Prime Minister, a great visionary, believes in big scale. He believes in massive transformation. And after a decade of governance, the results are written on the wall. It is after a long gap of several decades, that we have a Prime Minister continually in the third term. And that is making all the difference.' Kautilya had one great emphasis, the Vice-President said, 'Democracy has to be participatory; development equally has to be participatory. He laid great emphasis on individuals contributing for national welfare. A nation is defined by decorum, discipline -- that is individualistic in nature. Similarly, I quote Kautilya: 'Just as one wheel alone does not move a cart'.....Administration cannot be accomplished single-handedly.' He highlighted how this ethos are reflected in contemporary governance, 'This nation has an administration which is innovative. In the country, we had some districts that were lagging behind. Bureaucrats did not venture into those areas. Prime Minister Modi created a nomenclature for those districts: 'Aspirational Districts'. And now, those 'Aspirational Districts' have turned out to be lead districts in development. Prime Minister Modi suddenly thought that people are going to metros. Tier 2, Tier 3 cities must also be hubs of economic activity. He devised a mechanism of smart cities. Smart cities were not in the context of infrastructure or beauty. It was in the context of facilities being available for entrepreneurs, for students.' Reflecting on the foundational principles of power and governance, the Vice-President said, 'Power is defined by limitations. Democracy is nurtured when we are ever mindful of the limitations of power. If you go deep into Kautilya's philosophy, you will find all this converges only to one essence, nectar of governance--welfare of the people.' Quoting Kautilya's Arthashastra, Dhankhar noted, 'Kautilya declared, 'The happiness of the king lies in the happiness of his people.' If you look at constitutions of any country that are democratic, you will find this philosophy is the underlying spirit and essence of democratic governance and democratic values.' Concluding with a reflection on India's civilizational ethos, the Vice-President remarked, 'Democracy is nurtured best when expression and dialogue complement each other. That distinguishes democracy from any other form of governance. And in India, democracy did not start with our Constitution coming into force or we getting independent from foreign rule. We have been a democratic nation in spirit for thousands of years. And this expression and dialogue, complementary mechanism--Abhivyakti, Vaad Vivaad--has been known in Vedic culture as Anant Vaad.' (ANI)
New Indian Express
08-05-2025
- Politics
- New Indian Express
We always believe in global peace, fraternity, welfare: VP Jagdeep Dhankhar
NEW DELHI: Vice-President of India, Jagdeep Dhankhar, on Thursday asserted that democracy in India did not begin with the Constitution coming into force; rather, it has existed since time immemorial. 'In India, democracy did not start with our Constitution coming into force or us getting independence from foreign rule. We have been a democratic nation in spirit for thousands of years. And this expression and dialogue, complementary mechanism—'Abhivyakti, Vaad Vivaad'—has been known in Vedic culture as 'Anant-Vaad'.' The Vice-President also lauded Prime Minister Narendra Modi for his visionary leadership under which the nation is reaching new heights in every field of development and power. 'Our Prime Minister has exemplified in action Kautilya's philosophy. Kautilya's thought process is a treatise in governance, virtually encyclopaedic for every facet of governance—statecraft, security, role of the king, now those elected,' Dhankhar said. Quoting a saying of Kautilya, the Vice-President said, 'A neighbouring state is an enemy, and enemy's enemy is a friend.' Which country knows it better than Bharat? We always believe in global peace, global fraternity, and global welfare.' Interacting with the Kautilya Fellows from the India Foundation, the Vice-President praised Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visionary leadership and determination for the nation's development and strength. He said, 'Our Prime Minister, a great visionary, believes in big scale. The PM believes in massive transformation. And after a decade of governance, the results are written on the wall. It is after a long gap of several decades that we have a Prime Minister for the third term. And that is making all the difference'.
Zawya
18-02-2025
- Business
- Zawya
Oman Convention & Exhibition Centre hosts major diplomatic gathering for Indian Ocean region
Muscat – The Oman Convention & Exhibition Centre (OCEC) proudly hosted the 8th Indian Ocean Conference on 16–17 March, under the theme 'A Journey Towards New Horizons of Maritime Partnership.' The multilateral conference was organised by Oman's Foreign Ministry in collaboration with the India Foundation and supported by the S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies in Singapore. For the occasion, OCEC's grand ballroom was transformed into a dynamic diplomatic platform, facilitating high-level discussions on the challenges facing Indian Ocean nations and strategies to enhance regional cooperation in maritime, economic, and security affairs. Foreign ministers from 27 countries, along with key regional stakeholders, convened for the two-day summit, which opened with remarks from Oman's Foreign Minister Sayyid Badr bin Hamad Al Busaidi, India's External Affairs Minister Dr. S. Jaishankar, and Singapore's Minister for Foreign Affairs Dr. Vivian Balakrishnan. Eng. Said Al Shanfari, CEO of OCEC, expressed his pride in hosting such a significant diplomatic event: "Our venue was designed to be a space where the future of our country and region takes shape. Hosting events of this scale and importance is at the heart of what we do, creating lasting impact for Oman and beyond. We look forward to welcoming more global events at OCEC, supported by our government, private sector, and local associations." This marks the second major international event hosted at OCEC in 2025, following the International Science Council's 3rd General Assembly in January. The venue is now preparing for the Ramadan period with a new offering for corporate and public iftars under the Layali Al Irfan campaign, while also gearing up to welcome more global gatherings in the coming months. For further information about the event, please visit Oman's Foreign Affairs ministry website:
