ITV News
What is the Essential Commodities Act that India invoked to safeguard fuel amid Iran war?
Government prioritises household gas and transport fuel as Iran conflict threatens global oil supply
MUMBAI: India has invoked the Essential Commodities Act (1955) to safeguard the nation’s energy security as the conflict involving Iran, Israel, and the US intensifies. With the Strait of Hormuz facing potential closure, the government is moving to prevent fuel shortages and stop price gouging in the domestic market. By triggering the Natural Gas (Supply Regulation) Order 2026, officials have established a strict hierarchy for gas distribution, with the primary goal of ensuring that homes and public transport do not run out of fuel, even if global supplies are choked by the war.
Under the new rules, a tiered allocation system has been mandated based on the average consumption of the past six months. Household piped gas, LPG (cooking gas), and CNG for transport have been given top priority and will receive 100 per cent of their required supply. The fertilizer sector has seen its supply cut to 70 per cent to divert resources elsewhere, while non-essential industrial units are restricted to 80 per cent of their usual intake. Additionally, refineries are now prohibited from using propane for plastic production, as these gases must be redirected to create LPG for kitchens.
Legally, the Essential Commodities Act is a crisis-era law that allows the Centre to control the production and distribution of vital goods. In this instance, it grants the government the power to set price caps and prevent traders from hoarding fuel in anticipation of higher prices. While the 2020 amendment to the Act limited government intervention in agricultural markets, it specifically retained the authority to intervene during wartime or “extraordinary circumstances.”
The ripple effects of the West Asian conflict are already being felt in major cities, with hubs like Pune and Bengaluru reporting difficulties in securing gas cylinders for commercial businesses. By invoking these emergency powers now, the government aims to stabilise the domestic market before disruptions at sea escalate into a full-scale energy crisis at home.
ITV News
Deepak Bhojwani exits SonyLIV
Advertising executive closes chapter after working on marquee properties from UEFA Champions League to Kaun Banega Crorepati
MUMBAI: Deepak Bhojwani has moved on from SonyLIV, drawing the curtain on an 18-month run that placed him at the centre of some of India’s most powerful television and streaming properties.
Bhojwani served as manager, content partnerships and ad sales at the streaming platform, where he handled more than 45 key accounts and worked closely with agencies to structure advertising deals and brand integrations across major intellectual properties.
The role brought him into the commercial engine room of premium content—from global sporting events such as the UEFA Champions League and major tennis tournaments to flagship Indian entertainment shows including Kaun Banega Crorepati, MasterChef India and Shark Tank India.
During his tenure, Bhojwani also secured key advertisers across marquee events such as the French Open and the Asia Cup, winning the platform’s quarterly “Customer Champion” recognition for exceeding revenue targets.
Before joining SonyLIV, Bhojwani held senior ad-sales and partnership roles across the digital and sports media ecosystem, including stints at Viacom18 Sports, Airtel Digital, Paytm, and OYO. His career spans more than a decade across category building, strategic partnerships, and B2B account growth.
Bhojwani described the stint as a demanding but formative phase that deepened his understanding of the content ecosystem, particularly the fast-evolving non-fiction and sports landscape.
The next destination remains undisclosed. But in an industry where content, commerce and advertising increasingly collide, the next chapter is unlikely to stay unwritten for long.
