India’s strategic oil reserves cover less than 10 days of demand: RTI

An RTI response from the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas states that India's strategic reserves can meet about 9.5 days of crude oil requirement in case of import disruptions. Data presented in the Rajya Sabha on March 23, 2026, shows that India currently holds around 3.372 million metric tonnes of crude oil, which is roughly 64% of its total storage capacity of 5.33 million metric tonnes. This indicates that the country's effective oil cover is well below 9.5 days at the moment. The gap between capacity and actual stock assumes significance at a time when global energy markets are under pressure due to escalating tensions in West Asia, a region that accounts for a significant share of India's crude oil imports. Any escalation in the region could impact supply chains and push prices higher, increasing risks for import-dependent economies like India, which imports over 85% of its crude oil needs.