India's Petroleum Sector
Downstream Regulation and Public Sector Role
The downstream petroleum sector — covering refining, storage, and distribution of petroleum products — is regulated by the Petroleum and Natural Gas Regulatory Board (PNGRB). Public sector undertakings (IOC, BPCL, HPCL) dominate LPG distribution through a network of distributors. The government sets prices for domestic cylinders and provides subsidies through the Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) mechanism.
- Three major OMCs (Oil Marketing Companies): Indian Oil Corporation (IOC), Bharat Petroleum (BPCL), Hindustan Petroleum (HPCL)
- LPG subsidy is transferred via DBT — consumers pay market price and receive subsidy in bank accounts (PAHAL scheme)
- Commercial LPG (19 kg cylinder) is sold at market-linked prices without subsidy
● Tracked since March 12, 2026 · last seen June 28, 2026 · updates as the daily brief publishes
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