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The Indian government said it holds around 100 million barrels of crude oil, enough to meet demand for about 40–50 days, keeping the country in a comfortable position.
The 100 million barrels of crude is spread across commercial tanks, underground strategic reserves, and shipments already on the way.
Context: as the US and Israel escalate military operations against Iran, global markets are bracing for a possible shutdown of the Strait of Hormuz.
Iran has claimed it has already closed the Strait, but reports suggest it’s still unclear whether this is a full blockade.
Why this matters: the Strait of Hormuz is a narrow 33-km sea route through which a large chunk of the world’s oil passes. India imports about 88% of its crude oil, and more than half of that comes from the Middle East, much of it sailing through this very route.
What happens if oil stops flowing: in the short term, the impact would be logistical and price-driven. Tankers may take longer routes, insurance costs could jump, and crude prices would spike.
That means higher fuel prices, pressure on inflation, and a wider import bill. India could respond by increasing purchases from West Africa, the US, Latin America, or even ramping up Russian imports if needed.
