This Week in Explainers: Why India has not hiked fuel prices, opted for WFH amid West Asia war

It’s been one month since the US and Israel launched strikes against Iran, killing then Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and other top officials. The attack has plunged the world into an unprecedented crisis as the Islamic Republic responded with retaliatory strikes on Israel and the Gulf nations.

The prices of oil have only been going up, and there are massive supply chain disruptions as the Strait of Hormuz has turned into a battleground. While India is doing all it can to shield itself from the impact of the West Asia war, concerns over shortages of cooking gas and petrol have led to panic-buying. The Modi-led government has assured that the country’s energy supply is fully secured and the rumours of lockdown are false.

The other big story from India is about euthanasia. On Wednesday (March 25), Harish Rana, the first in the country to die by passive euthanasia, was cremated in Delhi, a day after he breathed his last. The 31-year-old had been in a coma since 2013 and was permitted the right to die by the Supreme Court.

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In our weekly war, we talk about the impact of the Iran war, India’s euthanasia laws and more.

1. The war in West Asia has delivered the biggest shock to oil markets. Brent crude has remained above $100 per barrel. Several nations, including Pakistan, Nepal and Bangladesh, are resorting to Covid-era-like measures like work from home and restricted travel to deal with the crisis. However, India has remained largely insulated from any such impact. Here’s how.

2. The Modi government has assured that there is no LPG shortage despite the crisis fuelled by the war. However, it is rolling out measures to ensure that energy supplies are not affected in the long run. It is pushing more and more households to switch from cylinders to piped natural gas. How is PNG different from LPG? And which is a better option for you? We explain.

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3. Amid the surge in crude and fuel prices, the government has slashed the Special Additional Excise Duty (SAED) on petrol and diesel by Rs 10 per litre each on Friday (March 27). With this, taxes have come down to Rs 3 for petrol and zero for diesel. The move is aimed at keeping the retail prices of the two fuels in check. But how does this impact consumers? Will it reduce cost?

4. While the focus is on oil amid the war, the prices of beer could also go up this summer. India, which is the world’s fourth largest importer of natural gas, depends on Qatar for 40 per cent of its supply. But what does gas have to do with beer? Well, it is used to power high-temperature furnaces to manufacture glass bottles that store the brew. With recent disruptions, production of this packaging could go up, pushing up the prices of beer. We explain.

5. The Strait of Hormuz, the world’s most important oil artery, is at the centre of the West Asia war. While the route is blocked for the US and its allies, Iran has said it will allow Indian ships to safely pass through. As tensions in West Asia remain high, the Indian Navy has launched Operation Urja Suraksha. It has deployed more than five frontline warships under the mission to ensure the safe passage of India-bound cargo vessels as they exit the Strait.

6. While India has been toeing the diplomatic rope, Kashmiris have been sending donations to Iran. About Rs 17.91 crore has been raised, with many giving cash, gold, and even livestock. However, some of these donations have now come under the scanner. Intelligence agencies fear that the funds could be misappropriated and misused for anti-India activities. We tell you more.

7. Beyond the war, we bring you a tragic story from India. Harish Rana, the first patient to be granted passive euthanasia in the country, died on Tuesday. The 31-year-old was in a coma for 13 years. He fell from a fourth-floor balcony while studying engineering at Panjab University. His death has put the spotlight on India’s euthanasia laws.

8. The case has been dubbed as Maharashtra’s Epstein files. It revolves around Ashok Kharat, a self-styled godman and astrologer. He is accused of threatening women and sexually assaulting them. That is not all. He has also been accused of human sacrifice. Who is Kharat, and what are his many crimes? We explain.

That’s our recommendations of stories from India. You can find more such explainers here.

PS: If you are a Dhurandhar fan, here’s an interesting story about Rasputin. The song about the ‘lover of the Russian queen’ plays in the film.