Global Oil Shocks Hit Indian Middle Class Twice: Dual Dependency on LPG, Fuel

• Indian families face "Dual Petroleum Dependency" for cooking (LPG) and transport, making them doubly vulnerable to global oil price hikes.
• LPG and conveyance now consume 7.5-10.2% of monthly household budgets, a significant increase from a decade ago.
• Government schemes like Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana (PMUY) boosted LPG use (rural 17% to 53%, urban 71% to 90%), improving living standards but increasing oil dependency.
• Tensions in West Asia and Strait of Hormuz disruptions are driving current price increases, despite assurances from Minister Hardeep Singh Puri.
• Rising fuel costs, including a Rs 60 hike for LPG cylinders, impact essential expenditures, limiting scope for savings for middle-class families.