India will tour Ireland for T20Is in June before England series. Full schedule and key details here. World champions India will tour Ireland for a T20I series in June ahead of their white-ball assignment in England. The series, confirmed by Ireland’s director of high performance Graham West
Following a thorough review of the situation in various parts of the Middle East, the CBSE has cancelled the Class 10 main examinations on March 5th. The affected countries include Bahrain, Iran, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the UAE. During this period, 6 major exams including Mathematics
New Delhi: The ongoing geopolitical tensions in the Gulf region due to escalations by Iran, Israel, US could send a ripple effect in the Indian property market. The hostile conditions in the West Asia could result in price escalation in India's realty sector
Mumbai orthopaedic surgeon warns this common sleeping position is 'killing your neck': Shares simple hack to fix itDr Manan Vora shared that many people focus on maintaining good posture during the day, but neglect their neck alignment at night, leading to chronic pain. Published on: Mar 20
Dhurandhar 2 box office collection day 1: Dhurandhar (the first part) released and became the all-time highest grosser in Hindi, opening with Rs 27 crore at the box office. Dhurandhar 2 box office collection: Bollywood just got its biggest opener in Hindi ever! Filmmaker Aditya Dhar's Dhurandhar 2:
Gas shortage caused by Iran war may push India back to dirtier fuels
Shipping disruptions from the US-Israel war with Iran have squeezed gas supplies to India, risking a temporary shift back to polluting fuels like coal, kerosene and biomass, experts say.
There are reports that suggest some regions in India are witnessing a spike in timber sales, while others see increased sales of cow dung cakes - both biomass fuels.
India has been dealing with a squeeze in cooking gas supplies over the past few days, leading to panic-buying by domestic users.
The war that started on 28 February has halted ship movements through the Strait of Hormuz. About one-fifth of the world's oil and gas passes through the narrow waterway.
The Gulf chokepoint handles about half of India's LNG imports and most of its LPG shipments.
Foreign Minister S Jaishankar has said talks with Iran may ease disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz. Since Monday, three Indian-flagged vessels - two carrying LPG and one crude - have reached the western state of Gujarat, but about 21 ships remain stalled, keeping supply tight.
As an immediate step, the federal government has approved an extra 48,000 kilolitres of kerosene for states, beyond the regular quota, to support low-income households through the public distribution system (PDS).
"Kerosene is being made available through retail outlets and PDS channels," Petroleum Minister Hardeep Singh Puri said last week.
India's environment ministry has told state pollution boards to let restaurants and hotels temporarily switch to biomass (wood, dried crops, animal manure), fuel pellets, kerosene and coal for a month, prioritising cooking gas for households and essential sectors.
Government programmes have rapidly expanded LPG use for cooking in India, replacing kerosene and traditional biomass like firewood and dung. But with 60% of its LPG imported, India is now the world's second-largest importer after China.
The shift is stark: kerosene output has fallen from 7.5 million tonnes in 2014–15 to under one million tonnes in 2023–24, government data shows.
"We see it [people buying kerosene, coal and firewood] as a very temporary situation and when supply of LPG becomes better, consumers will immediately move back," said Nandikesh Sivalingam, director of Center for Research on Energy and Clean Air.
He warned that a return to kerosene, coal and biomass - linked to serious heart and lung disease - would quickly worsen indoor air pollution. Burning them releases carbon monoxide, nitrogen oxides and fine particles that penetrate the lungs and bloodstream.
"Urban households may be more exposed to fuel shortages than rural areas, as they have fewer immediate fallback options," said Vibha Dhawan, director general at the Energy and Resources Institute in Delhi.
In urban India, Sivalingam believes, a more likely scenario would be to move to electric cooking as a back-up rather than switching to biomass or other fuel. But it would increase demand for electricity - much of which in India is generated using coal.
India already relies heavily on coal. It provided nearly 79% of India's domestic energy in 2023-24, according to government data.
Such dependence means any short-term shift away from gas is likely to reinforce an energy system that is already built around coal, experts say.
Madhura Joshi of climate think tank E3G said rural households may turn to biomass like firewood and subsidised kerosene, while some could shift to electricity, biogas or improved cookstoves where available and affordable.
Dhawan further said technologies such as solar cooking systems - including solar cookers as well as solar photovoltaic systems connected to electric cooking devices - can reduce dependence on fossil fuels for household energy needs.
She added that wider adoption of such technology could improve household energy resilience while supporting India's clean energy transition.
However, such solutions take time to expand at scale.
And, in the short term, experts say, coal remains the most readily available fallback.
Follow BBC News India on Instagram, YouTube, X and Facebook.
Source: BBC
Related Posts: Gas shortage hits ceramic hub in Gujarat's Morbi as Iran war widens Swiggy, Eternal brace for impact as gas shortage hits restaurants in India Adani Total Gas cuts industrial gas prices as supply crunch eases amid Iran war Water Fuels Raging US-Israel-Iran War will the Iran war squeeze India's piped gas next India's auto boom at risk as Iran war chokes gas supply at car plants India's ceramic hub grinds to a halt as Iran war chokes gas supply How Iran war laid bare the world's reliance on Gulf oil and gas Indian firms feel the squeeze as Iran war disrupts gas supplies Ukraine faces missile shortage due to Middle East war
The excitement around Aditya Dhar’s spy thriller franchise shows no signs of slowing down. Just months after the release of the first film last December, the sequel, Dhurandhar: The Revenge, has hit theatres on March 19 and fans are going absolutely wild
2 minutes ago
US President Donald Trump has issued a typically strongly worded statement in the wake of attacks on a major gas field shared by Iran and Qatar on Wednesday. Israel hit Iran's South Pars - part of the world's largest natural gas field – and Tehran retaliated by striking an energy complex in Qatar
2 minutes ago
Editorial independence is core to our work. Some links may earn us a commission, without influencing our opinions.No budget for an AC? How to stay cool without an AC using simple and affordable cooling solutionsFrom air coolers to simple home hacks
2 minutes ago
The impact of the ongoing war in West Asia is spreading beyond oil and gas. Important sectors in India such as fertilisers, diamonds, aviation and polymers are feeling the pressure. New Delhi: The war in West Asia is no longer about oil and gas only. It is now affecting India’s overall economy
2 minutes ago
President Donald Trump's visit to Beijing is delayed due to a Middle East war. Analysts believe this puts China in a stronger position to negotiate. Trump may seek a diplomatic win. China has ignored calls to help reopen the Strait of Hormuz
2 minutes ago
The 13th century Persian poet Saadi Shirazi writes of human beings as “members of a whole”, of one essence and soul, and calls for sympathising with human pain: If one member is afflicted with pain,Other members uneasy will remain.If you’ve no sympathy for human pain
2 minutes ago
Stojanovic's late goal rescues Jamshedpur FC against SC Delhi Published on: Mar 20, 2026 10:27 AM IST PTI Share via Copy link Stojanovic's late goal rescues Jamshedpur FC against SC Delhi Key Takeaways Summary is AI-generated Jamshedpur FC's Nikola Stojanović scored a last-minute equaliser
2 minutes ago
The US is weighing lifting sanctions on some Iranian oil, as it scrambles to contain the impact of its war in Iran on energy markets. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent put forward the idea in a Fox interview, saying it could make more oil available to global buyers. Around the world
2 minutes ago
Australian all-rounder Jack Edwards will miss the IPL 2026 season. He sustained a foot injury. Sunrisers Hyderabad signed him for Rs 3 crore. This is a blow for Sunrisers Hyderabad. They will also miss captain Pat Cummins. Ishan Kishan will lead the team
2 minutes ago
Gastroenterologist says jamun seed is great for diabetes management; suggests best way to consume it: ‘1 spoon every…’Gastroenterologist emphasises that jamun seeds aid diabetes management through natural compounds that regulate blood sugar levels and reduce inflammation. Updated on: Mar 20
2 minutes ago
A viral video shows a hand pump left in the middle of a newly widened road in Mirzapur, UP. See the "drive-through hydration" mockery and the PWD’s midnight fix. The Uttar Pradesh Public Works Department faced public outrage after a video showed a hand pump standing in the center of a street that
2 minutes ago
Investors scramble to make sense of HDFC chairman Atanu Chakraborty's sudden exitThe unexpected resignation of HDFC Bank chairman Atanu Chakraborty has left investors bewildered, triggering a 5% drop in shares. Updated on: Mar 20, 2026 9:59 AM IST By Shayan Ghosh Share via Copy link Mumbai:
2 minutes ago
Early in this maximalist’s dream of sensory overload, when the background voice of a girl menacingly provokes: ‘you are not ready for this’, one wants to tell her actually, one is over-prepared. As it turns out, the sequel attempts to outdo the original in volume and venom
2 minutes ago
The new season of dating show The Bachelorette has been cancelled following domestic violence allegations against this season's star, ABC has said. The network said it "made the decision to not move forward with the new season" after footage of Taylor Frankie Paul emerged on Thursday appearing to
2 minutes ago
Dhurandhar 2 worldwide box office collection day 1: ₹240 crore start breaks all Bollywood records, beats even BaahubaliDhurandhar 2 worldwide box office collection day 1: Ranveer Singh's spy thriller has crossed the ₹200 crore mark globally on its first day itself. Mar 20, 2026
2 minutes ago
Eid al-Fitr celebrations is about celebrating with family and loved ones. It is a time of rejoicing and coming together with the community. Like many festivals in India, food and especially desserts, plays an integral part in the celebrations
2 minutes ago
The release of Dhurandhar: The Revenge has transformed PVR multiplexes across Delhi-NCR into realms of barely controlled anarchy with house full boards, police deployment, technical malfunctions, and record-breaking advance bookings proclaiming one of the largest debuts the capital has ever seen
2 minutes ago
IMD issued a yellow alert for rain and 50kmph storms in 13 UP districts including Noida, Meerut, and Ghaziabad. Check the 48-hour forecast and farmer advisory here. The weather in Uttar Pradesh is going to change a lot. The India Meteorological Department said there will be thunderstorms, rain
2 minutes ago
India weather today: Going out in the car during rainy days is fun and enjoyable, but it can turn risky if your vehicle isn’t ready for the bad weather. India weather today: Going out in the car during rainy days is fun and enjoyable, but it can turn risky if your vehicle isn’t ready for the
2 minutes ago
Barricades, broken promises, phone curbs: Inside Vijay’s TVK Iftaar party in PoonjeeriFollowing Chennai controversy last year, actor Vijay’s TVK organised a more streamlined Iftaar party and managed the crowd wanting to get closer to the star Published on: Mar 20
2 minutes ago
Stock Market Holiday: Confusion is building among investors over whether Indian stock markets will remain closed on March 20 on account of Eid al-Fitr. As per the official holiday calendars released by NSE and BSE for 2026, Eid al-Fitr is not scheduled as a market holiday on March 20
2 minutes ago
West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has strongly criticized the Election Commission of India's recent reshuffles of state officials. She described the actions as an 'undeclared Emergency' and a politically motivated move to control the state
2 minutes ago
As Dhurandhar 2 sets new Bollywood opening record, a look at the top 10 first day box office collectionsRanveer Singh-starrer Dhurandhar has become the first Bollywood film to earn ₹100 crore in a day. It is directed by Aditya Dhar. Mar 20, 2026
2 minutes ago
SPOILER ALERT! The ending of Dhurandhar 2: The Revenge takes a quiet and emotional turn. Ranveer Singh’s Hamza Ali Mazari finishes his mission in Pakistan and returns to India. As he regains his identity as Jaskirat Singh Rangi, what happens to him afterwards? Let’s find out
2 minutes ago
Is the LDF losing its grip on Kerala? A new 2026 pre-poll survey of 26,000 voters shows the UDF leading with 38.2% vote share. See the top CM picks and anti-incumbency data. A pre-poll survey ahead of the 2026 Kerala Assembly elections shows a notable change in the political scene
2 minutes ago
RBSE 10th Result 2026: Rajasthan Board Class 10 results not releasing today? latest update here Published on: Mar 20, 2026 10:19 AM IST By HT Education Desk | Written by Papri Chanda Prefer HTon Google Quick Read Share via Copy link Rajasthan Board of Secondary Education has postponed the
2 minutes ago
Just ten days ago, Delhi was witnessing the hottest March week in 50 years with temperatures soaring above 35 degrees Celsius. Days after, within the same month, Delhiites have been waking up to rains for two consecutive days, and the same March now has become the wettest March for the city in
2 minutes ago
