India’s natural gas consumption recovered to nearly pre-disruption levels in June 2026, showing a broad-based improvement in demand across several key sectors. However, the recovery could face pressure from rising competition for liquefied natural gas (LNG) in international markets and elevated spot prices, according to a research report by Equirus.
India’s total gas consumption rose 7 per cent month-on-month and 2 per cent year-on-year to 197 million metric standard cubic metres per day (mmscmd) in June. Even after excluding demand from the power sector, consumption increased 7 per cent from May and 4 per cent compared with the same period last year, reaching 176 mmscmd. The figures indicate that the recovery in gas demand is becoming more broad-based rather than being driven by a single sector.
Imported gas was the main contributor to the increase. LNG consumption jumped 13 per cent month-on-month and 10 per cent year-on-year to 110 mmscmd. Domestic gas supplies, meanwhile, remained unchanged from the previous month at 87 mmscmd and were down 8 per cent compared with June 2025. This pushed India’s dependence on imported gas to 56 per cent.
Equirus also pointed to a significant revision in the May data, which has changed the assessment of the pace of recovery. Gas consumption for May was revised upwards to 184 mmscmd from the earlier estimate of 169 mmscmd, while LNG consumption was revised to 97 mmscmd from 83 mmscmd. The revisions suggest that demand had already recovered more strongly than previously estimated before the June increase.
Growth during June was spread across several segments. City gas distribution remained one of the largest contributors, with consumption increasing by 2.3 mmscmd from the previous month to 58 mmscmd. Demand from miscellaneous users rose by 3.9 mmscmd to 41 mmscmd, while refinery consumption increased by 2.6 mmscmd to 15 mmscmd. The refinery segment also benefited from a 25 per cent increase in imports. Fertiliser and power-sector consumption recorded improvements as well, while petrochemical demand recovered to 7 mmscmd. Despite the recovery, petrochemical consumption remained significantly below its year-earlier level.
The brokerage expects gas demand to remain healthy in July, although consumption could be slightly lower than June because of a moderation in power-sector demand. A further weakening is possible in August, when lower consumption from the Morbi cluster and seasonal factors could affect overall demand. At the same time, India’s LNG sourcing strategy has undergone a notable change. The country imported around 7 million tonnes of LNG between May and July, representing a 15 per cent increase from the corresponding period a year earlier. The increase came despite a sharp 91 per cent decline in LNG supplies from Qatar. The United States became the largest supplier during the period, followed by Nigeria and Oman, helping India diversify its sources and reduce its immediate dependence on Qatari cargoes.
The international LNG market remains challenging. Equirus said stronger LNG buying by China is increasing competition for flexible cargoes, potentially making it more difficult and expensive for other Asian buyers to secure supplies. Asian spot LNG prices moved above USD 19 per million British thermal units in July and have since risen beyond USD 20. European gas storage levels also remain below historical averages, adding to concerns about global supply-demand conditions.
The commissioning and ramp-up of new LNG projects around the world could eventually improve the availability of gas and provide some relief to buyers. However, the brokerage cautioned that shipping constraints, sanctions and payment-related risks could influence whether additional supplies actually reach countries such as India at competitive prices.
For India, the latest figures provide a positive signal for the domestic gas market, with demand returning close to earlier levels and growth becoming more widespread across industries. Yet, with more than half of consumption now dependent on imported gas, international LNG prices and supply conditions will remain crucial. The ability to secure reliable LNG at affordable prices could ultimately determine whether the current recovery develops into sustained growth in India’s natural gas market.
Disclaimer: This image is taken from ANI
Iranian Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi has urged Muslim-majority countries to strengthen regional cooperation and become more self-reliant in dealing with security challenges, following what he described as a strong showing by Iran's armed forces against the United States. In a post shared on X on Friday, Araghchi praised Iran's military capabilities and called on neighbouring countries and Muslim nations to stand together in the face of external pressure.
Referring to the US military, he said Iran's armed forces had demonstrated their preparedness and strength against one of the world's most powerful military forces. Araghchi also stressed the importance of solidarity among Muslim countries, arguing that greater unity would help the region respond more effectively to outside threats. He called for greater reliance on domestic capabilities and closer cooperation based on what he described as genuine brotherhood.
His comments came shortly after Saudi Arabia, Turkey and Pakistan signed a new tripartite defence agreement in Mecca amid growing tensions across West Asia. Known as the Mecca Joint Defence Agreement, the pact is aimed at expanding security and military coordination between the three countries. Under the agreement, an armed attack against any one of the three signatories would be treated as an attack against all three.
The deal also commits the countries to strengthening cooperation across various areas of defence and improving their collective deterrence capabilities. The agreement was signed during a high-level meeting involving Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif in Saudi Arabia.
The pact comes at a time when regional security concerns have intensified. Saudi Arabia has faced attacks on infrastructure and energy-related facilities amid the wider conflict involving Iran and its regional allies. Drone and missile strikes have added to concerns over the security of the kingdom's strategic and petroleum assets. Turkey's relations with Israel have also faced increasing strain, particularly over the Gaza conflict, while tensions surrounding Iran, Lebanon and other parts of the region have added to the broader security crisis.
Against this backdrop, the Mecca agreement represents an effort by the three countries to deepen their defence partnerships and strengthen their ability to respond collectively to potential threats. The development also comes as US President Donald Trump has expressed confidence that the conflict involving Iran could come to an end in the near future. Trump said Iran may not be able to sustain the confrontation for much longer and pointed to ongoing diplomatic efforts involving the Strait of Hormuz.
The waterway remains strategically important to global energy markets because a significant share of international oil shipments passes through it. Trump has also reiterated Washington's position that Iran should not be allowed to develop a nuclear weapon, while expressing optimism about negotiations aimed at reducing tensions around the crucial maritime route. With regional alliances shifting and security concerns continuing to grow, Araghchi's call for greater Muslim solidarity highlights Tehran's broader push for stronger regional cooperation and reduced dependence on outside powers.
Disclaimer: This image is taken from ANI.
India’s ethanol blending programme is increasingly influencing the country’s agricultural economy, with growing demand for ethanol feedstocks such as maize and sugarcane beginning to affect crop choices, farm incomes and the wider debate over food security. India has made rapid progress in its ethanol-blending programme in recent years. The country achieved a 20% ethanol blending rate in petrol during the 2025-26 supply year, five years ahead of its earlier target. Government data shows that ethanol blending has increased sharply from less than 1.5% in 2013-14 to 20% in 2025-26, while domestic ethanol production capacity has expanded substantially.
The government has described the programme as an important component of India’s energy-security strategy. By replacing a portion of petrol with domestically produced ethanol, India aims to reduce its dependence on imported crude oil, lower foreign-exchange expenditure and create an additional market for agricultural commodities. The policy, however, is having consequences far beyond the fuel sector.
As ethanol producers look for reliable supplies of feedstock, crops such as maize are gaining a new source of demand. Maize has traditionally been important for food, poultry feed, livestock and several industrial applications. The arrival of a growing ethanol market means producers now have another major buyer, potentially changing the economics of cultivation. For farmers, this can be an attractive development. A dependable market can reduce some of the uncertainty associated with agricultural prices and give growers greater confidence when deciding which crop to plant. In parts of Punjab, for example, the expansion of ethanol demand has encouraged interest in maize as an alternative to paddy. Farmers and millers have argued that the crop can provide a new commercial opportunity while also helping reduce dependence on water-intensive rice cultivation.
But the shift has also raised questions about what happens when the same crop is required for both fuel and food-related industries. The Economic Survey 2025-26 pointed to an emerging tension between energy security and food security. Stronger demand for ethanol feedstocks could encourage farmers to move towards crops such as maize at the expense of pulses and oilseeds. Such a change could eventually increase India's dependence on imports of commodities that are important to the domestic food supply.
The issue becomes particularly important because maize is a major input for the poultry and livestock industries. If ethanol producers absorb a larger share of available maize, feed manufacturers may face higher procurement costs. Those costs can move through the supply chain and eventually affect prices of products such as eggs, poultry and other animal-based foods.
Sugarcane presents another side of the ethanol story. India’s sugar industry has become an important source of ethanol, allowing sugar mills to diversify their revenues and reduce their dependence on sugar sales. Government policies encouraging the diversion of sugar-sector products towards ethanol have helped strengthen the link between the sugar industry and the fuel market. For sugar mills and cane farmers, the arrangement can provide an additional source of demand. However, sugarcane is also a water-intensive crop, making its expansion a concern in regions where groundwater resources are already under pressure. This means the success of ethanol production cannot be measured only in terms of fuel output or foreign-exchange savings. The impact on water use and regional cropping patterns also matters.
The government has highlighted the economic benefits of the ethanol programme. According to official figures, ethanol blending has helped reduce crude-oil consumption and generate substantial foreign-exchange savings since the programme began expanding. The government has also said that farmers have benefited through payments generated by the growing demand for ethanol feedstocks.
The programme has nevertheless become increasingly political. The debate over E20 has expanded from agricultural markets and energy security to questions involving consumers, automobile manufacturers and trade policy. Critics have raised concerns about vehicle compatibility, fuel efficiency and the broader economic consequences of higher ethanol blending, while the government has maintained that the programme is an important part of India’s long-term strategy to reduce oil dependence.
The issue has also surfaced in India's trade discussions with the United States. The government recently rejected reports that it had committed to importing large quantities of US fuel ethanol as part of a trade agreement, maintaining that the domestic ethanol-blending programme is intended to rely on domestic production. For Indian farmers and ethanol producers, the question of imports is significant because imported ethanol could compete with domestically produced supplies. For policymakers, it is another reminder that ethanol has evolved into a strategic commodity connecting agriculture, energy, trade and rural economics.
The bigger challenge now is maintaining a balance between these competing priorities. India needs to reduce its exposure to international crude-oil prices and improve energy security, but it also needs sufficient supplies of food, animal feed and edible oils. If ethanol incentives significantly change cropping patterns, the country could potentially reduce one form of import dependence while increasing another.
The future direction of the ethanol programme may therefore depend increasingly on diversification. Greater use of agricultural residues, waste-based feedstocks and advanced biofuel technologies could help reduce competition between fuel production and food markets. At the same time, policies supporting pulses, oilseeds and other essential crops will remain important if India wants to maintain a balanced agricultural system.
The rise of ethanol has demonstrated the growing political power of agricultural commodities. A government decision taken in the energy sector can influence what farmers grow, what industries pay for raw materials and what consumers eventually pay for food. India’s E20 journey is therefore no longer simply a story about mixing ethanol with petrol. It is becoming a much larger story about the future of Indian agriculture and how the country balances its demand for food, fuel, farmer income and energy independence.
Disclaimer: This image is taken from Hindustan Times.
Eighty-four years after the Quit India Movement shook the foundations of British rule in India, the historic August 1942 uprising continues to hold an important place in the country's freedom struggle and national memory. The movement began on August 8, 1942, when the All India Congress Committee adopted the Quit India resolution in Bombay, now Mumbai. At the historic meeting at Gowalia Tank Maidan, Mahatma Gandhi gave his powerful call of "Do or Die", urging Indians to launch a decisive struggle for independence. The historic ground is today known as August Kranti Maidan.
The Quit India Movement emerged at a crucial moment in India's history. World War II was underway and Britain was seeking Indian support for the war. However, political leaders in India were increasingly demanding a clear commitment to independence. The failure of the Cripps Mission earlier in 1942 further deepened the political crisis. The proposals brought by Sir Stafford Cripps did not meet the Congress demand for immediate self-government, paving the way for a much more aggressive mass movement.
The British government moved quickly to suppress the agitation. On August 9, Gandhi and several other senior Congress leaders were arrested. Authorities expected that removing the movement's top leadership would prevent it from spreading. Instead, protests erupted across several parts of the country. Students, workers, farmers and ordinary citizens joined demonstrations and strikes. In several places, protesters challenged colonial authority by targeting government offices, railway infrastructure and communication networks. With senior leaders in prison, local organisers and underground groups played an increasingly important role in keeping the movement alive.
The British administration responded with widespread arrests, censorship and police action. Thousands of people were detained, while several protesters were killed or injured during the crackdown. Despite the repression, the movement demonstrated the growing determination among Indians to end colonial rule.
Women also played an important role in the movement. Aruna Asaf Ali became one of its most recognisable figures after hoisting the national flag at Gowalia Tank Maidan on August 9, following the arrest of senior Congress leaders. Her role later became closely associated with the resistance of 1942. The movement also brought several lesser-known freedom fighters into the national struggle. Across different parts of India, young people and local activists participated in protests, organised underground activities and faced imprisonment for opposing British rule. Their contribution remains an important part of the wider history of the Quit India Movement.
The slogan "Quit India" itself is widely associated with socialist leader Yusuf Meherally, who had earlier coined the slogan "Simon Go Back". Gandhi's "Do or Die" message subsequently became one of the defining phrases of the 1942 movement. Although the Quit India Movement was suppressed by the British authorities, it marked a significant stage in India's journey towards independence. The mass mobilisation showed the extent of public opposition to colonial rule and reinforced the demand that India should determine its own political future.
Independence eventually came on August 15, 1947, five years after the Quit India resolution. The country then faced an entirely different challenge: building a democratic and independent nation from the foundations left behind by colonial rule. That nation-building process continues decades later. The meaning of freedom has expanded beyond political independence to include economic opportunity, access to education, technological development, social security, good governance and equal participation in the country's growth.
For today's generation, the legacy of the Quit India Movement is therefore not limited to remembering the events of 1942. It also raises questions about the responsibilities that come with independence. Building strong institutions, creating opportunities for young people, protecting democratic values and ensuring that development reaches ordinary citizens remain important parts of India's continuing national journey. As the country marks 84 years of the Quit India Movement, the events of August 1942 serve as a reminder of a generation that demanded the right to shape its own future. The challenge for the present generation is to carry that legacy forward by strengthening the foundations of the independent India that those freedom fighters envisioned.
Disclaimer: This image is taken from NDTV.
UN Geneva has welcomed five young peacocks gifted by India, reviving a decades-old tradition at the Palace of Nations. The new arrivals—four blue peacocks and one white male—will initially stay in a temporary aviary at Ariana Park for around three months before being allowed to roam freely across the grounds. India's gift continues a tradition that dates back to 1981, when former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi presented a breeding pair of peacocks to Geneva. The birds are being introduced to rebuild the estate's peafowl population, which had fallen to just one surviving bird. Officials say the UN grounds provide an ideal habitat, though the young birds will be monitored closely for predators such as foxes. The five males are expected to settle peacefully as a group. The peacock tradition itself dates to Gustave Revilliod, who donated the estate to Geneva in 1890 with a provision that peacocks should continue to roam its grounds. A public contest is also expected to be held to name the five new arrivals.
Disclaimer: This image is taken from ANI.
Every Wednesday and Friday throughout August, we’re revisiting some of the standout audio long reads from 2026, giving listeners another chance to experience stories they may have missed. Each feature is accompanied by a note from our editorial team explaining why it earned a place among this year’s highlights. This edition revisits a story first published in February, chronicling one writer’s decades-long search for answers to a mysterious illness before finally receiving a diagnosis. The piece also explores whether techniques aimed at retraining the brain could offer a path toward recovery.
Disclaimer: This podcast is taken from The Guardian.
Myanmar's military government has released rare images of detained leader Aung San Suu Kyi meeting a Red Cross official, marking her first known contact with the outside world since the 2021 coup. The photos were released just ahead of junta chief Min Aung Hlaing's first official visit to Thailand, prompting speculation about their political significance.
Disclaimer: This podcast is taken from CNA.
Two years after taking office as Australia's Governor-General and representative of King Charles, Sam Mostyn has expressed concern over what she describes as a widespread lack of understanding among adults about the foundations of the country's democracy, particularly its Constitution. In an interview with Guardian Australia political editor Tom McIlroy at Admiralty House in Sydney, Mostyn said improving civic education has become one of her key priorities. She argued that strengthening public knowledge of Australia's democratic institutions is essential to tackling what she called a "growing catastrophe" that threatens informed civic participation and the health of the nation's democracy.
Disclaimer: This podcast is taken from The Guardian.
In this edition of Made in SG, Melanie Oliveiro spotlights W Optics, a Singapore-based vision care specialist and optical retail chain. W Optics CEO Jonathan Wong shares the company's journey, explaining how his father, Francis Wong, founded the business and eventually entrusted him with leading its next phase of growth. Joining the discussion is senior optometrist and manager Oh Shwu Ji, who offers insights into common eye health concerns while highlighting the latest trends in eyewear design and prescription glasses.
Disclaimer: This podcast is taken from CNA.
