India has reaffirmed that its energy sourcing decisions will continue to be guided solely by national interests, consumer protection, and supply security — not by external pressure — as global oil markets remain volatile and geopolitical tensions deepen.
Responding to recent remarks by US President Donald Trump, who claimed that Prime Minister Narendra Modi had assured him India would halt Russian oil imports, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) clarified that India’s decisions are driven by “energy security and economic priorities.”
Official Spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said, “India is a significant importer of oil and gas. It has been our consistent priority to safeguard the interests of the Indian consumer in a volatile energy scenario. Our import policies are guided entirely by this objective.”
He reiterated that the “twin goals” of India’s energy strategy are ensuring stable prices and secured supplies, adding that New Delhi’s approach includes “broad-basing our energy sourcing and diversifying as appropriate to meet market conditions.”
While acknowledging ongoing discussions with Washington on deepening energy cooperation, Jaiswal emphasized that India continues to pursue an independent and pragmatic policy framework. “Where the US is concerned, we have for many years sought to expand our energy procurement. This has steadily progressed in the last decade. The current administration has shown interest in deepening cooperation, and discussions are ongoing,” he said.
Diversification and renewable push
India, which imports more than 80% of its crude oil, has been steadily broadening its supply network to include new partners in the Middle East, Africa, and the Americas — while maintaining discounted purchases from Russia. Officials underscored that India’s focus remains on securing affordable and reliable energy amid global market disruptions.
Simultaneously, the government is accelerating its clean energy transition. Flagship programs such as PM Surya Ghar Yojana and PM Kusum Yojana have driven a sharp rise in solar generation capacity, positioning India among the fastest-growing renewable energy markets in the world. Renewable sources, particularly solar and wind, are now contributing a steadily increasing share to the national energy mix.
As the global energy landscape faces renewed uncertainty, India’s message remains clear: its energy policies will continue to serve the interests of its 1.4 billion citizens — ensuring affordability, stability, and independence in an unpredictable world.
