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12 August 2026

Russia's share in India's oil imports

The topic involves significant shifts in India's energy security, trade relations with Russia, and the potential impact of US sanctions, which are core themes in international relations and economic policy for the UPSC Mains.

2 min read Day 9 of 10 2 questions 2 prelims

Notes

  • Russia's share in India's total crude oil imports reached an all-time high of 48% in June 2026.
  • India's total crude oil imports in June 2026 were 18.2 MMT, a 16.5% decline from May 2026 and 13% lower than June 2025.
  • Despite lower overall volumes, Indian imports of Russian oil rose to 8.7 MMT in June 2026, a 25% increase year-on-year.
  • The U.S. Senate passed the 'Lindsey O. Graham Sanctioning Russia and Iran Act of 2026', proposing tariffs up to 100% on countries importing Russian oil that meet specific criteria.
  • The premium charged by Russia for its oil to India declined from $77.7 per tonne in April 2026 to $10.6 per tonne in June 2026.
  • The Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas (MoPNG) stated that India has pre-empted sanctions exposure through ship-to-ship transfer operations in international waters.
  • The UAE accounted for 17.5% of India's oil imports by volume in June 2026.
  • Russia and the UAE combined accounted for nearly two-thirds of India's total oil imports in June 2026.
  • MoPNG maintains that high import concentration is mitigated by the logistical flexibility of Indian refineries to switch between crude grades and supply routes.

Part of a longer story

This is day 9 of 10 in India's strategy for crude oil imports amid West Asia crisis, which has been running since 9 July 2026. Reading it whole is usually worth more than reading today alone — the exam asks how something developed.

Questions

  1. Analyze the implications of the proposed U.S. sanctions legislation on India's energy security strategy and its reliance on Russian crude oil imports. 150 words
    Attempt this — 150 words in 8 min
    0 / 150 words 8:00
  2. Discuss the challenges of maintaining energy security in the context of volatile global oil markets and geopolitical tensions. How does India's strategy of logistical flexibility and supply diversification address these risks? 250 words
    Attempt this — 250 words in 11 min
    0 / 250 words 11:00

Prelims

  1. What was Russia's share in India's total crude oil imports in June 2026?

  2. According to the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas, how has India sought to mitigate potential sanctions exposure regarding oil imports?

Syllabus

Topics

Sources

250words.in · https://250words.in/daily/2026-08-12/russia-s-share-in-india-s-oil-imports