PNGRB, MoEF&CC Push for Natural Gas Adoption with Industry-Friendly Measures

04 Dec 2024 CW Team

Natural gas, which can reduce emissions by up to 27% compared to petroleum products, not only offers environmental benefits but is also a more cost-effective and efficient alternative, making it an appealing choice for industries.

PNGRB is working to ease the transition to natural gas by relaxing inspection schedules, reducing compliance requirements, and lightening the regulatory burden on industries, as stated by A Ramana Kumar, Member, PNGRB. These changes aim to minimize disruptions and help businesses shift to cleaner fuels with fewer operational hurdles.

Additionally, PNGRB is collaborating with state governments to address VAT discrepancies on Piped Natural Gas (PNG) and Compressed Natural Gas (CNG), which currently vary across states. For instance, Maharashtra and Goa have lowered VAT to 3%-4%, while Gujarat and Karnataka have capped it at 5%. This policy is already yielding cost benefits for end-users, and PNGRB is encouraging other states to adopt similar reductions.

Another key proposal is including natural gas under the Goods and Services Tax (GST) framework, which would streamline tax procedures and reduce costs for industries. The government is also exploring financial incentives, such as subsidized loans for capital expenditure (CAPEX) related to clean fuel infrastructure, to make the transition more financially viable for industries.

These initiatives align with the National Clean Air Programme (NCAP), which aims to improve air quality in 131 non-attainment cities across India. PNGRB and MoEF&CC are also working on plans to replace diesel buses with CNG alternatives in cities with established gas infrastructure.

These measures are designed to reduce urban air pollution while promoting the use of natural gas across various sectors.

In a move to make natural gas a central element in India’s clean energy transition, the Petroleum and Natural Gas Regulatory Board (PNGRB), in collaboration with the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEF&CC) and state governments, is planning a series of industry-friendly measures to boost natural gas adoption across industries and commercial sectors. Natural gas, which can reduce emissions by up to 27% compared to petroleum products, not only offers environmental benefits but is also a more cost-effective and efficient alternative, making it an appealing choice for industries. PNGRB is working to ease the transition to natural gas by relaxing inspection schedules, reducing compliance requirements, and lightening the regulatory burden on industries, as stated by A Ramana Kumar, Member, PNGRB. These changes aim to minimize disruptions and help businesses shift to cleaner fuels with fewer operational hurdles. Additionally, PNGRB is collaborating with state governments to address VAT discrepancies on Piped Natural Gas (PNG) and Compressed Natural Gas (CNG), which currently vary across states. For instance, Maharashtra and Goa have lowered VAT to 3%-4%, while Gujarat and Karnataka have capped it at 5%. This policy is already yielding cost benefits for end-users, and PNGRB is encouraging other states to adopt similar reductions. Another key proposal is including natural gas under the Goods and Services Tax (GST) framework, which would streamline tax procedures and reduce costs for industries. The government is also exploring financial incentives, such as subsidized loans for capital expenditure (CAPEX) related to clean fuel infrastructure, to make the transition more financially viable for industries. These initiatives align with the National Clean Air Programme (NCAP), which aims to improve air quality in 131 non-attainment cities across India. PNGRB and MoEF&CC are also working on plans to replace diesel buses with CNG alternatives in cities with established gas infrastructure. These measures are designed to reduce urban air pollution while promoting the use of natural gas across various sectors.

Infrastructure Transport

13 Oct 2025

Tata, Airbus to Build India’s First Private Helicopter Line

In a landmark development for India’s aerospace sector, Tata Advanced Systems Limited (TASL) and Airbus will establish the country’s first private-sector helicopter assembly line in Vemagal, Karnataka. The facility will manufacture the Airbus H125 and H125M, marking a significant milestone in India’s push for self-reliance in aviation and defence manufacturing. The new Final Assembly Line (FAL) will produce the H125, the world’s best-selling single-engine helicopter, known for its versatility and performance in extreme environments. The first ‘Made in India’ H125 is expected to ro..

Infrastructure Urban

13 Oct 2025

NeGD to Support Bharat Taxi in Building Cooperative Ride Platform

In a significant move for India’s digital and mobility transformation, the National e-Governance Division (NeGD) of the Digital India Corporation, under the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY), has entered into an advisory partnership with Sahakar Taxi Cooperative Limited, the company behind Bharat Taxi — a first-of-its-kind, cooperative-led national ride-hailing platform. A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) has been signed between NeGD and Sahakar Taxi to provide strategic advisory and technical support covering key areas such as platform integration, cybersecurity..

Technology

13 Oct 2025

MeitY Hosts Pre-Summit for India–AI Impact Summit 2026

The Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY), Government of India, hosted a series of Pre-Summit events for the upcoming India–AI Impact Summit 2026 at the India Mobile Congress (IMC) 2025 in New Delhi. These sessions mark a key milestone ahead of the main summit, scheduled for 19–20 February 2026 at Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi. Delivering the inaugural address, S. Krishnan, Secretary, MeitY, highlighted India’s innovative and frugal approach to AI development. “We have adopted innovative means by learning from others’ experiences to build projects and products that..