PM chairs CCS Meeting to review measures being taken in the context of ongoing West Asia Conflict

1. At a Glance

• Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS), chaired by PM, met to review India's domestic mitigation measures triggered by the 2025 West Asia (Iran–Israel) conflict [S1][S2].
• Focus: insulating essential supplies — fuel (LPG/LNG), fertilizers, food, shipping, aviation, logistics, MSMEs — from external shocks [S1].
• Parallel diplomatic-humanitarian track: Operation Sindhu evacuated Indian nationals from Iran & Israel [S3][S4].
• Tests aspirants on executive machinery (CCS), Essential Commodities Act, energy security, MEA evacuations.

2. Why in the News

• PM chaired a special CCS meeting to review mitigation measures across sectors amid the ongoing West Asia conflict [S1].
• A second CCS meeting followed, reviewing diversification of LPG/LNG sourcing and power-sector stability [S2].
• Coincided with Operation Sindhu, launched 18 June 2025, evacuating Indian nationals from Iran and Israel [S3][S4].

3. Background & Evolution

• CCS is the apex body on national security, defence, foreign affairs and atomic energy decisions; chaired by PM, includes Ministers of Defence, Home, Finance, External Affairs [standard GoI practice].
• West Asia conflict escalation (2024–25) between Israel and Iran, with risks to Strait of Hormuz shipping (≈ India's principal crude/LNG corridor).
• India earlier ran Operation Ajay (Oct 2023) to evacuate citizens from Israel after Hamas attack; Op Kaveri (2023, Sudan); Op Ganga (2022, Ukraine); Op Vande Bharat (2020, COVID) — pattern of MEA-led evacuations.
• Current CCS huddle is the executive-branch mitigation counterpart to those evacuation operations.

4. Core Static Facts

• Body: Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS); chair: Prime Minister [S1].
• Sectors reviewed: agriculture, fertilizers, shipping, aviation, logistics, MSMEs, LPG/LNG, fuel duty, power, essential commodities [S1].
• Key statutory tool flagged: Essential Commodities Act, 1955 — action against hoarding & black-marketing; Control Rooms set up for price monitoring with States/UTs [S1].
• Fertilizers: Maintain Urea production; coordinate with overseas suppliers for DAP and NPKS imports [S1].
• Energy: Diversification of LPG (new country inflows) and LNG sourcing; fuel duty reduction and power-sector stability reviewed [S1][S2].
• Operation Sindhu (MEA): launched 18 June 2025; total evacuated 4,415 — 3,597 from Iran, 818 from Israel; used 19 special flights including 3 IAF C-17s [S3][S4].
• Also evacuated 14 OCI cardholders, 9 Nepali, 4 Sri Lankan nationals, 1 Iranian spouse [S3].
• Routes: via Armenia (Yerevan), Jordan (Amman), Egypt (Sharm el-Sheikh) [S3].

5. Multi-Dimensional Analysis

Economic - India imports >85% crude, ~50% natural gas; West Asia disruption directly hits CAD, inflation, fertilizer subsidy bill [S1]. - DAP/NPKS supply coordination critical for Kharif sowing; urea self-sufficiency cushion [S1]. - MSME and shipping/insurance premium spikes (Red Sea / Hormuz risk) flagged [S1].

Geopolitical / Strategic - India balances ties with Israel, Iran (Chabahar), GCC — CCS review signals strategic autonomy + supply diversification [S1][S2]. - Strait of Hormuz chokepoint: ~2/3 of India's crude transits it.

Legal / Constitutional - Essential Commodities Act, 1955 invoked against hoarding [S1]. - CCS — non-statutory body, derives authority from Government of India (Transaction of Business) Rules, 1961 under Article 77.

Administrative - Centre–State coordination via Control Rooms for price/enforcement monitoring [S1]. - Inter-ministerial: PMO, MEA, MoPNG, Fertilizers, Civil Aviation, Shipping, MSME, Consumer Affairs.

Humanitarian - Op Sindhu demonstrates diaspora protection doctrine; MEA missions in Tel Aviv, Ramallah, Amman, Cairo activated [S3].

6. Recent Developments (last 12-18 months)

• 18 June 2025 — Op Sindhu launched; first batch of 110 students crossed Iran→Armenia border [S3].
• 19 June 2025 — first Sindhu flight lands New Delhi from Yerevan [S3].
• 20 June 2025 — Iran opens airspace for Indian evacuation flights [S3].
• 22–25 June 2025 — Israel-phase evacuations via Amman & Sharm el-Sheikh [S3].
• CCS meetings (June 2025) reviewed sectoral mitigation; second CCS focused on LNG/LPG diversification and power [S1][S2].

7. Prelims Hooks

• CCS is chaired by Prime Minister, not Home Minister.
• Operation Sindhu — evacuation from Iran & Israel (2025), not Sudan (that was Op Kaveri) [S3].
• Total Op Sindhu evacuees: 4,415; from Iran: 3,597; from Israel: 818 [S3].
• IAF aircraft used: C-17 Globemaster (3 sorties) [S3].
• Transit countries used: Armenia, Jordan, Egypt, Turkmenistan [S3].
• Statute invoked vs hoarding: Essential Commodities Act, 1955 [S1].
• Fertilizers requiring import coordination: DAP and NPKS [S1].
• Urea production maintained domestically [S1].
• Control Rooms set up to liaise with States/UTs on prices [S1].
• CCS reviewed: agriculture, fertilizers, shipping, aviation, logistics, MSMEs [S1].
• Energy diversification covered LPG and LNG sourcing [S1][S2].
• Previous Israel evacuation: Operation Ajay (October 2023).

8. Mains Relevance

• GS-II: India and its neighbourhood / Bilateral & global groupings — "Effect of policies and politics of developed and developing countries on India's interests, Indian diaspora."
• GS-III: Internal Security & Economy — energy security, supply-chain resilience.
• Question stems: 1. "Examine the institutional mechanisms by which India insulates its essential supplies from West Asian geopolitical shocks." 2. "India's evacuation operations have evolved into a doctrine of diaspora protection. Discuss with reference to Operation Sindhu." 3. "Discuss the role of the Cabinet Committee on Security in coordinating India's response to overseas conflicts."

9. Related Topics to Study Next

• Strait of Hormuz & Bab-el-Mandeb chokepoints — energy supply geography.
• Chabahar Port (Iran) — India's connectivity stake in Iran.
• Essential Commodities Act, 1955 — invocation, amendments (2020 reversal).
• India–Israel & India–Iran bilateral relations — strategic autonomy.
• IMEC (India–Middle East–Europe Corridor) — vulnerability to West Asia instability.
• Earlier evacuation ops — Ajay, Kaveri, Ganga, Vande Bharat, Raahat.
• Cabinet Committees (CCEA, CCPA, CCS) — constitutional basis (Art. 77, ToB Rules 1961).
• Fertilizer subsidy & DAP/Urea supply — NBS scheme.

10. Common Errors / Trap Areas

• Confusing Op Sindhu (Iran/Israel, 2025) with Op Sindoor (military strike) or Op Ajay (Israel, 2023).
• Assuming CCS has statutory basis — it is established under GoI Transaction of Business Rules, 1961.
• Crediting evacuation to MoD alone — it is led by MEA with IAF logistical support.
• Listing urea as imported during crisis — Government emphasised maintaining domestic urea production; imports focus was DAP/NPKS [S1].
• Treating Control Rooms as Centre-only — they coordinate with States/UTs under EC Act [S1].

11. Sources

• [S1] PM chairs CCS Meeting to review measures being taken in the context of ongoing West Asia Conflict — https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=2248071 — (tier 1)
• [S2] PM chairs CCS Meeting to review the situation and mitigating measures in the context of ongoing West Asia Conflict — https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=2243625 — (tier 1)
• [S3] Operation Sindhu: Over 4,400 Indians evacuated from Iran and Israel, says MEA — https://ddnews.gov.in/en/operation-sindhu-over-4400-indians-evacuated-from-iran-and-israel-says-mea/ — (tier 1, gov.in)
• [S4] Operation Sindhu: 2,295 Indians evacuated from Iran, 604 from Israel — https://ddnews.gov.in/en/operation-sindhu-2295-indians-evacuated-from-iran-604-from-israel-as-india-steps-up-rescue-efforts/ — (tier 1, gov.in)