India, May 3 -- The latest conflict in the Middle East has underscored a persistent reality: energy security remains a vital concern that cannot be taken for granted. For India, which imports 87 per cent of its crude oil, much of it from this region: The lesson is particularly significant. When you add to that 60 per cent of its LPG imports, every kilogram of potash used for agriculture, and nearly half the petrochemicals found in everyday products like detergents, plastics, and solvents, the extent of India's exposure becomes unmistakably clear.

This dependence on far-flung, often volatile supply routes is a strategic vulnerability that no amount of diplomatic maneuvering can fully safeguard. India has already demonstrated its capacity ...