India Does Not Need ‘Permission’ to Buy Oil. Period.

A curious narrative is gaining traction in sections of India's political and media discourse. Following reports that the United States had eased tariff pressures and allowed a temporary window for India's continued purchase of Russian oil amid the ongoing Iran-US-Israel conflict, Opposition members have begun suggesting that India needs "permission" from Washington to buy crude from Moscow. This interpretation is not only misleading - it fundamentally misunderstands how India conducts its energy diplomacy and economic policy.

In February 2026, Russia remained India's largest crude oil supplier. Indian refiners imported roughly 1.0 to 1.7 million barrels per day of Russian crude. That translates to nearly 25-30% of India's total oil imports, and approximately 28-48 million barrels of Russian oil during the month. In simpler terms, India has been purchasing roughly 10 lakh barrels of Russian oil every day.

These numbers alone demolish the idea that India's energy choices are dictated from abroad.

If India truly required American permission to buy Russian oil, these imports would simply not exist at this scale. Instead, they continue because India's policy is guided by a simple principle: energy security for 1.4 billion people. AND this has been reiterated time and again.

Oil is not a diplomatic favour. It is a strategic necessity.

India imports over 85% of its crude oil requirement. In such a scenario, the government must constantly balance price, supply stability, geopolitical risk and domestic inflation. Every barrel purchased at a discounted rate directly impacts the cost of transport, manufacturing, electricity and ultimately the household budgets of India's middle class.

This is precisely why India diversified its energy basket after the Ukraine war began in 2022. Russian crude became attractive because it was available at competitive prices and in large volumes. Indian refiners acted pragmatically, and the government supported a strategy that protected consumers from global price shocks.
 

That approach continues today.

Yes, India remains in dialogue with the United States, just as it is with Russia, the Gulf states and other suppliers. Diplomacy between major economies naturally involves trade negotiations, tariffs and political messaging. But interpreting such discussions as "permission" is a distortion.

India has been very clear about its position, from the beginning itself.

New Delhi has repeatedly stated that its energy purchases are determined by market conditions and national interest. In fact, even after Washington announced punitive tariffs linked to Russian oil purchases, India did not halt imports. Instead, it continued to diversify its supply sources while maintaining engagement with multiple partners.

That is not submission. That is strategic autonomy.

The current geopolitical situation only reinforces this reality. With tensions rising in West Asia and Qatar temporarily halting gas production due to the conflict, global energy markets are under pressure. In such circumstances, a responsible government must widen its procurement channels, not restrict them. Russia remains one such channel.

India's oil policy is therefore neither ideological nor externally dictated. It is pragmatic, sovereign and grounded in economic necessity.

Those who claim India needs approval from foreign capitals to buy oil overlook a basic truth: nations the size of India do not outsource their energy decisions. They negotiate, they diversify and they secure the best deal for their citizens. And that is what exactly India is doing today.