New Delhi: Liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) supply is a matter of concern mainly because of panic bookings that surged by 59% to nearly 8.9 million, but no dry-outs have been reported from any place so far, an official said, as the government on Saturday issued an order prohibiting a person having piped natural gas (PNG) to keep LPG connections.. People carry a household LPG cylinder that they received after waiting in a long queue. People queued up to collect their household LPG cylinders amid an ongoing LPG shortage. (Raju Shinde/HT Photo). Evoking the Essential Commodities Act, the government prohibited the supply of domestic LPG to a person having a PNG connection. In case a person has both PNG and LPG facilities, “such persons will be required to immediately surrender their domestic LPG connection,” the order said.. Divulging details of fuel supply situation at the inter-ministerial briefing on recent developments in war-torn West Asia, Sujata Sharma, Joint Secretary at the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas (MoPNG), said: “Regarding LPG supply, it is still a matter of concern for us in view of prevailing geopolitical situation, but no dry-out has been reported so far.”. There has been a surge in the number of LPG bookings on account of panic buying. Daily bookings have increased from an average of 55.7 lakh (5.57 million) to 88.8 lakh (8.88 million) yesterday, she said.. Sharma appealed to both domestic and commercial LPG customers to switch to piped natural gas (PNG) supplied by city gas distribution (CGD) companies to reduce reliance on LPG.. “India imports 60% of the LPG it uses. In the last one decade, the number of domestic LPG (cooking gas) connections crossed 33 crore (330 million) from about 14 crore (140 million), a 136% jump,” she said.. She informed that state-run gas marketing major GAIL India on Friday held virtual meetings with CGD companies supplying fuel in major urban areas such as Delhi, Mumbai, Ahmedabad, Hyderabad, Chennai, Bangalore, Lucknow, Kanpur, and Jaipur and advised them to expedite and promote new commercial PNG connections for hotels and restaurants so as to reduce pressure on LPG supplies.. Earlier this week, the government ensured natural gas supply to priority sectors at 100% to domestic PNG and CNG customers, without any cuts. Supplies to commercial and industrial consumers, however, are regulated at 80%.. “Commercial cylinders are at the disposal of state governments so that they can prioritise consumers. Distributions have started in about 29 states and union territories (UTs), and consumers are getting them uninterrupted,” she said.. “It is the responsibility of all states and UTs to monitor the supply situation, and the district administration plays a major role in this. Some chief ministers, including those of Haryana and Goa, have held meetings with their senior officials to ensure the equitable distribution of gas cylinders. Similarly, senior officials of Telangana and Andhra Prades 

 The Council for the Indian School Certificate Examinations (CISCE) on Saturday announced the cancellation of class X and XII board examinations in the United Arab Emirates amid rising safety concerns during the war in West Asia.. CISCE cancels board exams in UAE amid West Asia war. “The decision has been taken considering the security situation in the region and the safety and well-being of the candidates, examination functionaries, and all other stakeholders involved in the conduct of the examinations,” said the CISCE in a letter addressed to heads of its affiliated schools in UAE.. The announcement comes after the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) had postponed class X and XII examinations in Bahrain, Iran, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and UAE earlier this month. The letter states that the previous decision was revised by the CISCE in consultation with the CEO of the Knowledge and Human Development Authority (KHDA), Dubai’s educational quality assurance and regulatory authority, and the Consul General of India in Dubai.. “After reviewing the situation CISCE has decided to cancel the ICSE (Class X) and ISC (Class XII) Examinations that were postponed from 2nd March 2026 to 14th March 2026, as well as the remaining examinations scheduled from 18th March 2026 to 6th April 2026, for all Examination Centres located in the UAE,” states the letter. It also clarifies that the results of the cancelled examinations would be prepared using an alternative assessment mechanism which will be notified to the candidates in the future. Additionally, upon the declaration of results, students would have the option to appear for improvement exams if they are dissatisfied with the marks awarded to them. 

 The Special Task Force (STF) of West Bengal Police said on Sunday that they have arrested a Bangladeshi National on charges of helping the alleged killers of Bangladeshi youth leader Sharif Osman Hadi to enter India after committing the crime.. Police said they have arrested a man who allegedly helped Osman Hadi’s killers escape to India. (PTI/Representative). A week ago, the STF had arrested two suspects wanted for the murder of Hadi from Bongaon in West Bengal’s North 24 Parganas district. The two were identified as Faisal Karim Masud (37) alias Rahul, a resident of Bangladesh’s Patuakhali and Alamgir Hossain (34), a Dhaka resident.. “During interrogation, Masud and Hossain named one named one person Philip Sangma who helped them to cross over to India through Meghalaya. Later, Philip himself entered India illegally. Sangma was arrested on Saturday morning from Shantipur Bypass (in Nadia district),” said an officer.. Sangma, a resident of Bangladesh, told the police during initial interrogation that he operates as a border tout and facilitates illegal migrants to cross the border through Haluaghat (Bangladesh) – Dalupara (Meghalaya) border area in lieu of money. He also admitted that he had facilitated the two accused in the Hadi murder case, Faisal and Alamgir, to enter India.. “Later he entered India to evade arrest in Bangladesh. He stayed in various places after entering India. He was in touch with Masud and Hossain and was trying to go back to Bangladesh,” said another official.. Sangma produced in the court today. The court sent him to police custody.. Hadi, 32, the spokesperson for Inqilab Moncho, was shot in the head on December 12 in Dhaka. He was flown to Singapore for treatment. His death on December 18 triggered a political unrest in Bangladesh which subsequently led to the general elections on February 12.. The Tarique Rahman-led Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) swept the polls with its allies to form government after 20 years with 216 of the 297 seats. 

 India on Saturday said it is in touch with all key stakeholders in West Asia to ensure the safe passage of Indian-flagged merchant vessels through the Strait of Hormuz to ensure the country’s energy security, even as two LPG tankers sailed through the crucial waterway and headed towards Indian ports.. A total of 22 Indian-flagged merchant vessels are still in the Persian Gulf. (REUTERS/File). A total of 22 Indian-flagged merchant vessels, including six LPG carriers, an LNG carrier, and four crude oil tankers, are in the Persian Gulf and awaiting safe passage, officials told a media briefing on the situation in West Asia. Shivalik and Nanda Devi, two carriers with 92,700 metric tonnes of LPG, transited the Strait of Hormuz early on Saturday and are expected to dock at Mundra and Kandla next week, they said.. Since the start of the Iran-US conflict on February 28, India has called for de-escalation, emphasised the need to ensure the unimpeded transit of goods and energy, and urged all sides to avoid the targeting of civilian infrastructure, including energy infrastructure, across the region, said external affairs ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal.. India’s leadership reached out to all key interlocutors, including members of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), Iran, Israel, and the US, and underlined the country’s focus on energy security. “As a result of these multiple contacts with all concerned, some ships destined for India have been able to cross through the Strait of Hormuz,” Jaiswal said.. Separately, Iranian ambassador Mohammad Fathali said at the India Today Conclave that Tehran has allowed some Indian-flagged vessels to transit the Strait of Hormuz following contacts between President Masoud Pezeshkian and Prime Minister Narendra, and foreign ministers S Jaishankar and Seyed Abbas Araghchi.. “Yes, we have allowed [the vessels] but let me not tell you how many,” Fathali said. He declined to go into details and said he would continue following this issue so that more vessels could cross the strait. “As the ambassador, I did my best, of course, there was some delay, but it happened,” he said.. Iran and India have common interests and “any rift or gap” between them can be taken advantage of by “enemies”, Fathali said. “Both sides have the maturity to handle political and social issues together and solve everything,” he added.. Rajesh Kumar Sinha, special secretary in the shipping ministry, said the Shivalik is expected to dock at Mundra port on March 16 and the Nanda Devi at Kandla port on March 17. Authorities have issued instructions for priority berthing of LPG carriers at Indian ports to maintain energy supplies, and six LPG carriers arrived at ports from different parts of the world in the past three days, he said.. “Several of our ships remain on standby in the Gulf region. We propose to continue to remain in touch and coordinate with all concerned countries to ensure a safe and unimpeded transit for 

 India on Saturday said it is in touch with all key stakeholders in West Asia to ensure the safe passage of Indian-flagged merchant vessels through the Strait of Hormuz to ensure the country’s energy security, even as two LPG tankers sailed through the crucial waterway and headed towards Indian ports.. A total of 22 Indian-flagged merchant vessels are still in the Persian Gulf. (REUTERS/File). A total of 22 Indian-flagged merchant vessels, including six LPG carriers, an LNG carrier, and four crude oil tankers, are in the Persian Gulf and awaiting safe passage, officials told a media briefing on the situation in West Asia. Shivalik and Nanda Devi, two carriers with 92,700 metric tonnes of LPG, transited the Strait of Hormuz early on Saturday and are expected to dock at Mundra and Kandla next week, they said.. Since the start of the Iran-US conflict on February 28, India has called for de-escalation, emphasised the need to ensure the unimpeded transit of goods and energy, and urged all sides to avoid the targeting of civilian infrastructure, including energy infrastructure, across the region, said external affairs ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal.. India’s leadership reached out to all key interlocutors, including members of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), Iran, Israel, and the US, and underlined the country’s focus on energy security. “As a result of these multiple contacts with all concerned, some ships destined for India have been able to cross through the Strait of Hormuz,” Jaiswal said.. Separately, Iranian ambassador Mohammad Fathali said at the India Today Conclave that Tehran has allowed some Indian-flagged vessels to transit the Strait of Hormuz following contacts between President Masoud Pezeshkian and Prime Minister Narendra, and foreign ministers S Jaishankar and Seyed Abbas Araghchi.. “Yes, we have allowed [the vessels] but let me not tell you how many,” Fathali said. He declined to go into details and said he would continue following this issue so that more vessels could cross the strait. “As the ambassador, I did my best, of course, there was some delay, but it happened,” he said.. Iran and India have common interests and “any rift or gap” between them can be taken advantage of by “enemies”, Fathali said. “Both sides have the maturity to handle political and social issues together and solve everything,” he added.. Rajesh Kumar Sinha, special secretary in the shipping ministry, said the Shivalik is expected to dock at Mundra port on March 16 and the Nanda Devi at Kandla port on March 17. Authorities have issued instructions for priority berthing of LPG carriers at Indian ports to maintain energy supplies, and six LPG carriers arrived at ports from different parts of the world in the past three days, he said.. “Several of our ships remain on standby in the Gulf region. We propose to continue to remain in touch and coordinate with all concerned countries to ensure a safe and unimpeded transit for