Strategic petroleum reserves
In one line: Strategic petroleum reserves (SPR) are government-controlled stocks of crude oil kept to tide over supply disruptions.
India's reserves
India stores crude in underground rock caverns at Visakhapatnam in Andhra Pradesh, and at Mangaluru and Padur in Karnataka. They are built and managed by Indian Strategic Petroleum Reserves Limited, a company under the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas. Oil companies also hold their own commercial stocks of crude and products.
Why it is in the news
A shutdown of a major export route in West Asia is exactly the kind of shock reserves exist for. They let refiners keep running while they look for replacement cargoes, but a long disruption would still raise prices and the import bill.
Where to go next
- Strait of Hormuz
- Current account deficit
Strategic petroleum reserves in the news
- India's Russian oil purchases fall after new U.S. curbs 19 September 2026
India's buffer against shocks
- Saudi Arabia shuts its East-West oil pipeline after attacks: why it matters for India 13 September 2026
India's emergency oil stock and its limits.
Previous-year questions on this
- 2026 · GS3 · 15 marks Explain the key challenges for India's energy security. What measures do you suggest for ensuring energy security along with economic growth and sustainability?
- 2025 · GS2 · 15 marks "Energy security constitutes the dominant kingpin of India's foreign policy, and is linked with India's overarching influence in Middle Eastern countries." How would you integrate energy security…
- 2020 · GS2 · 15 marks What is the significance of Indo-US defence deals over Indo-Russian defence deals? Discuss with reference to stability in the Indo-Pacific region.
- 2017 · GS2 · 15 marks The question of India's Energy Security constitutes the most important part of India's economic progress. Analyze India's energy policy cooperation with West Asian Countries.