Official handling sealed documents in an office.
New Delhi: India has denied a Right to Information (RTI) request seeking details on crude oil imports from Russia, citing strategic and commercial confidentiality. The Petroleum Planning and Analysis Cell (PPAC), under the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas, has chosen to withhold this information, a decision that has been supported by the Central Information Commission (CIC).
The CIC, in its ruling, acknowledged that the disclosure of such data could impact the country’s economic interests and strategic positioning in the global energy market. Consequently, specific details regarding crude oil imports between June 2022 and June 2025 will remain undisclosed to the public.
This move highlights the sensitive nature of energy imports for India, particularly in the current geopolitical climate. While the government emphasizes the need for transparency through the RTI Act, it also reserves the right to protect information deemed critical for national economic and strategic security.
The Commission also noted concerns regarding the transparency of the PPAC’s own website, suggesting that improvements may be needed to ensure accessible and clear information dissemination on its operations and data reporting.
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