Government Notifies Landmark Order to Strengthen Natural Gas Infrastructure and Improve Ease of Doing Business

• Natural Gas and Petroleum Products Distribution (Through Laying, Building, Operation and Expansion of Pipelines and Other Facilities) Order, 2026 — notified by Ministry of Petroleum & Natural Gas (MoPNG) under the Essential Commodities Act, 1955.
• Creates a time-bound, deemed-approval framework for pipeline rollout (CGD/PNG/CNG) — central to India's gas-based economy goal of 15% share of natural gas in primary energy mix by 2030 (from ~6.3%).
• Examinable as Ease of Doing Business + Energy Security + Federalism intersection (right-of-use over land controlled by state/local bodies).