1. Introduction and Context:

  - Recent disturbances in the Red Sea region have significantly influenced India's oil import dynamics, prompting a shift away from conventional suppliers like the United States.

  - Rising freight rates caused by the heightened tensions in the Red Sea rendered US crude economically unserviceable for Indian refineries, leading to a reversion to traditional suppliers in the Persian Gulf (West Asia).

2. The Red Sea Incidents - A Major Shift:

   - The turmoil in the Red Sea region marked a sharp turn of events, especially with the drone attack on the chemical tanker MV Chem Pluto, a Japanese-owned, Liberian-flagged ship with Netherlands management.

   - MV Chem Pluto embarked on a journey from Al Jubail, Saudi Arabia, intending to reach New Mangalore, India, but was attacked approximately 200 nautical miles off the coast of Gujarat.

   - Allegedly, the assault was orchestrated by Houthi rebels based in Yemen, condemning Israel's actions in Gaza.

3. India's Oil Import Framework:

   - The current disruptions have had a direct impact on India, the world's third-largest oil consumer, succeeding the US and China.

   - India imports roughly 85% of its oil demand, a figure expected to rise given the weakening domestic production.

   - Major suppliers include Russia, Iraq, Saudi Arabia, and the UAE with Russia remaining India's single biggest supplier of oil, avalanche by 1.53 million barrels per day (bpd) in January 2024.

4. Government Measures to Tackle Rising Oil Demand:

  - The Indian government has adopted multiple strategies, including promoting energy efficiency, fuel diversification, and electric mobility, to manage increasing oil demand.

  - Attractive policies for oil exploration and substantial investments in technological advancements like Enhanced Oil Recovery (EOR) techniques by ONGC are implemented, increasing domestic oil production.

5. Way Ahead for India:

  - Diversifying biofuel development beyond ethanol blending could serve as a robust strategy to meet future energy demand sustainably.

  - The promotion of integrated public transportation systems and active mobility could reduce the demand for oil-based fuels.

  - Mandating green building standards for all construction could significantly cut energy consumption.

  - Transitioning towards a hydrogen economy offers another path forwards, which could supply a clean alternative to fossil fuels across several sectors including transportation, manufacturing, and power generation.