October 16, 2025

In a buzzing diplomatic twist, India made it clear on Thursday, October 16, 2025, that its energy policy is all about protecting its people. The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said India always puts the Indian consumer first when it comes to buying oil and gas. "India is a significant importer of oil and gas. It has been our consistent priority to safeguard the interests of the Indian consumer in a volatile energy scenario," he explained, adding that the government aims for stable prices and safe supplies. The MEA official highlighted that India is not just buying from one place. Instead, it is broadening and mixing up its energy sources to keep up with market changes. "Our import policies are guided entirely by this objective. Ensuring stable energy prices and secured supplies have been the twin goals of our energy policy. This includes broad-basing our energy sourcing and diversifying as appropriate to meet market conditions," Mr. Jaiswal said. Just hours earlier, in Washington, US President Donald Trump stirred the pot by saying that Prime Minister Narendra Modi assured him India would cut Russian crude oil purchases. Trump told reporters, "He can’t do it immediately. It’s a little bit of a process, but the process is going to be over soon." Mr. Jaiswal responded calmly, pointing out the long-term friendship in energy trade with the US. "Where the U.S. is concerned, we have for many years sought to expand our energy procurement. This has steadily progressed in the last decade. The current administration has shown interest in deepening energy cooperation with India. Discussions are ongoing," he said. This exchange happens as India continues to buy Russian oil despite Western sanctions, a move that has cooled down India-US relations. With tensions gently simmering, India's energy choices remain focused on balancing global politics with local consumer needs. (With inputs from PTI). Published - October 16, 2025 11:11 am IST

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Tags: India energy policy, Russia oil imports, Us-india relations, Randhir jaiswal, Donald trump, Narendra modi,