Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday said India successfully managed one of the world’s most challenging energy crises by expanding its energy sourcing, strengthening diplomatic partnerships and shielding citizens from the impact of rising global fuel prices.

Addressing a public gathering after inaugurating the country’s first greenfield integrated refinery-cum-petrochemical complex in Pachpadra, Rajasthan’s Balotra district, the Prime Minister said India adopted proactive measures during the recent Middle East crisis that helped maintain energy security despite global uncertainties.

According to PM Modi, India significantly diversified its energy imports as tensions disrupted global fuel markets.

“When the crisis began, India was importing energy from around 25 to 26 countries. During the crisis, we expanded imports to more than 40 countries,” he said, crediting India’s diplomatic outreach for ensuring uninterrupted supplies.

The Prime Minister also highlighted the financial measures taken by the government to cushion consumers from soaring international crude oil prices. He said public sector oil companies absorbed losses exceeding Rs. 75,000 crore between April and June while the Centre reduced excise duty on petrol and diesel by Rs. 10 per litre to prevent a steep rise in fuel prices for consumers.

PM Modi added that despite attempts by some groups to spread rumours and create panic during the crisis, the government’s efforts ensured stability.

He said those who expected India to struggle during the crisis had been proven wrong as the country successfully overcame the challenge.

India strengthening refining capacity

Speaking about India’s energy infrastructure, the Prime Minister said the country has become the world’s fourth-largest refining hub and continues to expand its refining capabilities to meet future energy demand.

He also said the government’s long-term planning helped India deal with disruptions in fuel and fertiliser supplies triggered by the conflict involving Iran and the US-Israel alliance.

Pachpadra refinery inaugurated in Rajasthan

During the visit, PM Modi inaugurated India’s first greenfield integrated refinery-cum-petrochemical complex at Pachpadra, marking Rajasthan’s first refinery project. He launched the facility by remotely activating the project after inspecting the refinery complex.

The Prime Minister also laid the foundation stone for several development projects in the state.

Highlighting the government’s approach towards infrastructure development, PM Modi said the BJP governments focus not only on announcing projects but also on ensuring their timely completion.

He also remarked that work on the Pachpadra refinery had remained largely stalled during the Congress government’s tenure in Rajasthan between 2018 and 2023 before gaining momentum again.

Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Friday reviewed the country’s preparedness for possible drought conditions arising from below-normal rainfall and directed all concerned ministries to remain vigilant as the southwest monsoon continues to record a significant rainfall deficit.

During a review meeting with Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan and senior government officials, Shah said the Centre is continuously monitoring the evolving situation linked to weak monsoon conditions and the potential impact of El Nino in several parts of the country.

Ministries told to coordinate with states

According to an official statement, the home minister instructed the Ministry of Agriculture and other concerned departments to work closely with state governments and provide farmers with guidance on crops suitable for sowing under below-normal rainfall conditions.

He also directed the Department of Water Resources to closely monitor water levels in reservoirs across the country and stressed the importance of promoting alternative crops that require less water, including fodder, millets and pulses.

Shah further instructed the Union Ministry of Power to ensure an uninterrupted and adequate electricity supply to meet any emerging challenges during the season.

Officials informed the meeting that sufficient stocks of essential food grains are available across the country and that the prices of essential commodities remain stable.

June records sharp rainfall deficit

India witnessed an overall rainfall deficit of nearly 40 per cent during June, with Central India recording the largest shortfall of 50.4 per cent. The country received only 99.5 mm of rainfall during the month, making it the fifth-lowest June rainfall since 1901.

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has also forecast below-normal rainfall across the country during July, raising concerns over water availability and agricultural activity.

Senior officials from the ministries of Agriculture, Water Resources, River Development and Ganga Rejuvenation, Environment, Forest and Climate Change, Power, Science and Technology, along with the Union Home Secretary and Agriculture Secretary, attended the review meeting.

Central teams to assess flood damage in Northeast

Apart from reviewing drought preparedness, Shah directed the Ministry of Home Affairs to send an Inter-Ministerial Central Team (IMCT) to Assam and Arunachal Pradesh to assess damage caused by recent heavy rainfall, flash floods and landslides.

The assessment will examine losses to infrastructure, agriculture and residential areas after flooding affected several districts in Assam while landslides disrupted transport and damaged infrastructure in parts of Arunachal Pradesh.

El Nino expected to strengthen during monsoon

Officials informed the meeting that El Nino conditions are currently prevailing over the equatorial Pacific Ocean and are likely to strengthen further during the June-September monsoon season.

El Nino is one of the three phases of the El Nino Southern Oscillation (ENSO), a climate pattern driven by changes in sea surface temperatures across the central and eastern tropical Pacific Ocean. It is generally associated with weaker monsoon rainfall over India and higher global temperatures.

The opposite phase, La Nina, typically supports better monsoon rainfall and has a cooling influence, while ENSO also has a neutral phase. Current Indian Ocean Dipole (IOD) conditions remain neutral, limiting their ability to offset the adverse effects of El Nino on India’s monsoon.

Ayodhya Police’s Special Investigation Team (SIT) investigating the alleged embezzlement of donations at the Ram Mandir has estimated that between Rs 6 lakh and Rs 8 lakh may have been diverted every day before the suspected fraud was uncovered.

According to information gathered during the investigation, officials associated with the bank handling the temple’s donations informed the SIT that the Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust previously received around Rs 16-18 lakh in daily cash donations. After the alleged irregularities surfaced, the daily collections reportedly increased to Rs 24-26 lakh, leading investigators to suspect that a substantial portion of donations had been siphoned off earlier.

Cash counting process under investigation

The SIT is examining the mechanism used for counting donations at the temple. Cash offered by devotees is collected from four donation boxes, with the counting process supervised by State Bank of India (SBI) through a private agency.

A 14-member team carries out the counting, comprising 11 bank personnel and three representatives of the temple trust. Investigators are now reviewing whether established procedures were followed and whether any lapses enabled the alleged diversion of funds.

Police are also preparing to approach the Enforcement Directorate (ED) to investigate the financial trail and related monetary transactions in greater detail.

Role of former bank employee

Retired bank employee Subhash Srivastava, who allegedly supervised the counting process, remains a key accused in the case. Investigators say his responsibilities included transporting cash from the donation boxes to the counting room before handing it over to the bank.

According to sources cited during the investigation, the theft was first reported in February when a member of the counting team allegedly informed Srivastava that cash was being stolen during counting. He is accused of responding that “God is watching,” suggesting that the matter did not require immediate concern.

Police have so far arrested eight accused, including Srivastava, Avinash Shukla, Anukalp Mishra, Tinnu Yadav, Lav Kush Mishra, Manish Kumar Yadav, Karunesh Pandey and Ramashankar Mishra.

Investigators have also noted that jewellery donations were allegedly not maintained under a systematic record, making them vulnerable to theft.

Bank officials questioned over procedures

The SIT questioned bank employees involved in the donation counting process and sought explanations regarding alleged deviations from the agreement between the trust and the bank.

Officials were asked why prescribed procedures were reportedly altered, why suspected irregularities were not escalated to senior authorities, and why a private security agency entrusted with security-related responsibilities was allegedly allowed to participate in cash counting.

The SIT is expected to assess the role of bank personnel in its final report, after which further action may be considered.

Money allegedly shared near temple

During interrogation, accused Avinash Shukla allegedly told investigators that the stolen cash was divided among the accused at a park near Bhikapur on the 14 Koshi Parikrama route. Police visited the location as part of the ongoing investigation.

Trust officials questioned again

The SIT also questioned Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust General Secretary Champat Rai and trustees Anil Mishra and Gopal Rao for a second time.

According to the information provided, all three have resigned from their trust posts following the emergence of the allegations.

Investigators sought details of their movable and immovable assets, income sources and supporting property documents. The probe is also examining allegations related to commissions during temple construction and land purchases, along with claims that certain individuals received undue benefits.

Officials have additionally sought information regarding the reported increase in the assets of Anil Mishra and Gopal Rao in recent years, including details related to Anil Mishra’s new residence and financial resources.

As part of the wider investigation, the SIT has called for the trust’s annual audit reports, financial records and other key documents. According to sources, investigators are also considering a fresh audit of the trust’s financial records.