The Centre has established seven empowered groups consisting of officials and experts to manage the repercussions of the Iran conflict on various sectors of the Indian economy. These groups, which include senior officials from the Prime Minister’s Office and the Cabinet Secretariat, were set up following directives from Prime Minister Narendra Modi after a meeting of the Cabinet Committee on Security. The aim is to evaluate the evolving situation arising from the West Asia conflict and devise strategies to mitigate its effects on India.
One of the empowered committees is primarily focused on strategic matters such as defense, external affairs, and public order. Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri leads this panel, with members including Home Secretary Govind Mohan and Defence Secretary Rajesh Kumar Singh. Another panel, led by Department of Economic Affairs Secretary Anuradha Thakur, is responsible for monitoring economic, financial, and supply chain-related issues, including export and import challenges.
Furthermore, Petroleum and Natural Gas Secretary Neeraj Mittal heads a group of secretaries focusing on petroleum, LNG, LPG, and energy matters. This group comprises secretaries from the ministries of power, coal, and mines, along with the heads of ONGC, IOC, and GAIL. Each empowered group has specific objectives, such as overseeing the impact on fertilizers and agriculture inputs, monitoring prices and essential commodities, and addressing transport and logistics-related issues.
