Union Minister for Petroleum and Natural Gas Hardeep Singh Puri denied rumors of a new nationwide lockdown and any plans to raise fuel prices.
These denials come as India faces regional tensions and rising global oil prices, which have sparked public anxiety and misinformation regarding the stability of the domestic economy.
Speaking Friday, April 26, 2026, Puri addressed the reports of impending restrictions. "Rumours of a lockdown in India are completely false," Puri said. "Let me state that there is no such proposal under consideration."
Parallel to the lockdown rumors, the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas countered reports suggesting an imminent increase in the cost of petrol and diesel. A ministry spokesperson said such reports were "mischievous and misleading," and that the government is not considering any price hikes.
To support this position, the ministry highlighted its pricing record over recent years. A spokesperson said that India is the only country where petrol and diesel prices have not increased in the last four years [1]. This stability is intended to reassure consumers and businesses despite the volatile nature of the international oil market.
While some media outlets, such as India.com, suggested that a diesel price hike was likely due to a deepening global oil crisis, the official government stance remains a firm denial of any such proposal. The ministry emphasized that fuel stocks are sufficient to meet national demand—a move intended to prevent panic buying or market speculation.
By addressing both the lockdown and fuel price rumors simultaneously, the government aims to stabilize public sentiment. The ministry continues to monitor global trends while maintaining that domestic pricing will remain steady for the time being.
“"Rumours of a lockdown in India are completely false."”
The Indian government is aggressively countering misinformation to prevent economic instability. By denying both lockdowns and fuel hikes, the administration is attempting to decouple domestic market sentiment from global oil volatility and regional geopolitical tensions, signaling a priority on price stability to maintain public order.
