Why Is India’s Energy Security in the News?
The ongoing conflicts in West Asia have once again exposed the volatility of global energy markets. For India — which imports more than 85% of its crude oil — this is not just an economic challenge but a strategic test. Energy Security is no longer just a part of foreign policy — it is an essential component of national security. This topic sits at the intersection of UPSC GS Paper 2 (IR) and GS Paper 3 (Economy, Energy). The UPSC Mentorship Program at Riyasat IAS Mentorship covers this multi-dimensional topic with complete analytical depth.
India’s Energy Security — Key Facts for UPSC Prelims
| Indicator | Data |
| Crude oil import dependence | 85%+ (89% of total consumption) |
| Strait of Hormuz — India exposure | ~45% of India’s oil imports pass through this chokepoint |
| Russia’s share in India oil imports | Rose from 2% (pre-2022) to 36% (2024) |
| India GDP impact (FY2027 estimate) | Growth falls from 7.4% to 6.5% due to energy crisis |
| Inflation impact | Projected to reach 4.4% |
| Europe Russia gas dependence reduction | 45% to 12% (post-Russia-Ukraine war) |
| China’s rare earth dominance | 91%+ of global rare earth production |
| India domestic mineral processing (2035 est.) | Less than 5% of required minerals |
| Operation Sankalp | Indian Navy mission — protects energy SLOCs in Persian Gulf |
A New Definition of Energy Security — 3 Pillars
| Pillar | Meaning | India’s Challenge |
| Resilience | Ability to withstand supply shocks | 45% of imports through Hormuz — extremely vulnerable |
| Diversification | Not dependent on single source | Progress made (Russia 36%) but West Asia still dominant |
| Stability | Protecting inflation and GDP growth | Crisis caused GDP estimate to fall from 7.4% to 6.5% |
5 Alarming Challenges — India’s Energy Security in New Geopolitical Landscape
1. The Hormuz Chokepoint — India’s Achilles Heel
The Strait of Hormuz is one of the world’s most critical energy chokepoints — 25% of global oil passes through it. Approximately 45% of India’s oil imports depend on this route. The March 2026 closure demonstrated: crude imports fell 17%, oil prices rose from $72 to $113/barrel in the Indian basket, and domestic fuel prices surged. India’s Strategic Petroleum Reserve (SPR) — currently capable of covering only ~9 days of demand — is grossly inadequate compared to Japan’s 150+ days. This is a direct UPSC Mains GS Paper 3 weak link analysis.
2. The Russia Success Story — Diversification That Worked
Before 2022, Russia’s share in India’s oil imports was a mere 2%. After Western sanctions on Russia following the Ukraine war, India strategically increased Russian oil imports — and by 2024 Russia’s share reached 36%. This represents India’s most successful recent example of energy diversification — leveraging Strategic Autonomy by refusing to follow Western pressure while securing cheaper oil. The UPSC Mentorship Program teaches such India-specific IR and energy examples for GS Paper 2 and 3 integration.
3. The Critical Minerals Trap — New Energy Dependency
As India transitions to EVs, solar panels, and batteries — a new import dependency is emerging. Lithium, cobalt, and nickel are essential for this transition. China controls 91%+ of global rare earth production. By 2035, India may be able to domestically process less than 5% of required minerals. This creates a dangerous situation: India escapes fossil fuel dependency only to enter critical mineral dependency — potentially under Chinese control. This is a direct UPSC Essay and GS Paper 3 topic.
4. The European Lesson — Security Over Efficiency
After the Russia-Ukraine war, Europe dramatically reduced gas dependence on Russia from 45% to 12% — accepting higher costs to prioritise security over efficiency. This is the key lesson for India: energy security sometimes requires paying a premium for diversity and resilience. India’s current approach — buying cheapest available oil (Russia) — optimises for cost but creates concentration risk. Japan, South Korea, and China have secured themselves through massive Strategic Reserves and long-term contracts — India must accelerate this.
5. India’s Strategic Buyer Status — A Genuine Advantage
As China’s oil demand stabilises, India’s growing demand makes it a Strategic Buyer in global oil markets — with genuine bargaining power. India has used this to negotiate favourable deals with Iraq, Saudi Arabia, UAE, USA, and Russia simultaneously. The Multi-directional sourcing strategy has created a real buffer against any single supplier’s disruption. UPSC Mains GS Paper 2 IR answers on India’s energy diplomacy must highlight this Strategic Buyer status. Follow related developments at iasmentorship.com/current-affairs.
India’s Energy Security is simultaneously a GS Paper 2 IR topic and a GS Paper 3 Economy topic. Master both with expert guidance. Riyasat Ali Sir personally builds this cross-paper analytical capability for every student. Join Now -> iasmentorship.com/admissions
The Way Forward — India’s Energy Security Strategy
| Intervention | Detail |
| Expand SPR | From ~9 days to 90+ days — India-Japan model collaboration |
| Operation Sankalp Expansion | Strengthen naval presence to secure SLOCs in Persian Gulf and Indian Ocean |
| Critical Mineral Diplomacy | Active role in Mineral Security Partnership (MSP) + domestic mining acceleration |
| Transport Transformation | Mass EV adoption + public transport to reduce direct crude consumption |
| Alternative Sea Routes | Develop Cape of Good Hope routing as Hormuz backup |
UPSC Relevance — India’s Energy Security
For Prelims:
- Strait of Hormuz — 25% global oil, 45% India imports, Iran-Oman between
- SPR — Strategic Petroleum Reserve — India vs Japan capacity
- Operation Sankalp — Indian Navy, Persian Gulf, SLOC protection
- Mineral Security Partnership (MSP) — India’s role in critical minerals
- Russia oil share — 2% (2022) to 36% (2024) — diversification example
Mains (GS Paper 2 & 3):
- Energy Security — Resilience, Diversification, Stability — three pillars framework
- Hormuz chokepoint — India’s exposure and mitigation strategy
- Critical minerals dependency — new form of strategic vulnerability
- European model (security over efficiency) — lessons for India
- India as Strategic Buyer — bargaining power in global oil markets
For this cross-paper Energy Security analytical depth, join Riyasat Ali Sir’s UPSC Mentorship Program. The Essay Foundation Program covers Energy Security as a complete Essay topic.
Practice Question:
“Amidst existing global geopolitical instability, India’s energy security rests more on diversity of options rather than self-reliance.” Examine.
Conclusion
India has proven it can switch suppliers during a crisis — but real success means future shocks do not affect the common Indian’s pocket or the country’s growth rate. Energy Security is now National Security. For complete GS Paper 2 and 3 Energy preparation, join Riyasat IAS Mentorship. Apply for admission today.
Also Read:
- UPSC Mentorship Program — Riyasat Ali Sir
- Foundation Mentorship English
- Secure Prelims Program 2026
- Essay Foundation Program
- Current Affairs for UPSC
- YATHARTH All India Mock Test
- FAQs — Riyasat IAS Mentorship
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