Prime Minister Narendra Modi is expected to chair a high-level meeting, including the recently created seven empowered group of Secretaries, on Monday (May 4) to review long term planning measures for addressing supply chain shocks such as the recent and ongoing closure of the Strait of Hormuz (SoH).
Last month, the government formed seven empowered groups on the lines of a similar exercise during Covid. These groups will identify issues and take immediate necessary steps to address the West Asia situation. Their terms of reference includes developing short, medium, and long-term strategies to mitigate adverse effects of any disruptions on supply chains.
Sources said that the Prime Minister will meet the concerned Ministries and the empowered groups to review their long-term strategies. The meeting is scheduled for Monday next week.
“The meeting will review long term strategies. For instance, these groups will examine potential disruptions to trade, supply chains and logistics, including shipping routes, ports, aviation corridors and critical imports exports, and take pre-emptive mitigation measures,” said one of the sources.
For instance, India is trying to build up its own shipping fleets, particularly for crude oil, liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) and liquefied natural gas (LNG).
During the India Energy Week (IEW) 2026, during January 2026, the Prime Minister in his inaugural address highlighted that India is working to build the vessels required for LNG transportation domestically, supported by a recently launched ship-building programme worth ₹70,000 crore.
The planning will also help the government prioritise trade opportunities. For instance, the Shipping Corporation of India (SCI) is working on starting services in West Asia, which will benefit Indian exporters.
Meanwhile, PSU oil and gas firms have floated tenders for a total of 10 vessels—8 very large gas carriers (VLGCs) and two medium range (MR) tankers. Similarly, SCI has floated tenders for two Mrs, and the Bharat Container Shipping Line (BCSL) has floated tender for six container ships.
Published on April 29, 2026