March 23, New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi chaired a meeting of the Cabinet Committee on Security to review the ongoing conflict in West Asia and the measures being taken and proposed to mitigate its effects.
PM Modi directed the formation of a group of ministers and secretaries to work in a whole-of-government approach. He also instructed sectoral groups to work in consultation with all stakeholders.
Highlighting the global impact of the conflict, PM Modi emphasized that all efforts must be made to protect citizens and minimize inconvenience. He called for coordination with state governments to prevent the black market and hoarding of essential commodities.
The meeting reviewed the expected impact and measures across sectors, including agriculture, fertilizers, food security, petroleum, power, MSMEs, exporters, shipping, trade, finance, and supply chains. The overall macroeconomic situation and additional measures were also discussed.
A detailed assessment of critical needs, including food, energy, and fuel security, was undertaken. Short, medium, and long-term measures to ensure the continued availability of essential supplies were discussed.
The impact on farmers and fertilizer requirements for the Kharif season was assessed, along with alternative sources to ensure uninterrupted supply. Adequate coal stocks at power plants were reviewed to prevent electricity shortages.
Measures to diversify import sources for chemicals, pharmaceuticals, petrochemicals, and other industrial sectors were considered. Plans to develop new export destinations for Indian goods were also discussed. Several ministry-proposed measures will be implemented after consultations with stakeholders in the coming days.
(Caption: PM Modi chairs meeting of Cabinet Committee on Security)
