Knowledge
Frequently Asked Questions
Short, sourced answers to common questions about Hardeep Singh Puri's career, his current portfolio and the energy sector, and about this website.
What is Hardeep Singh Puri's current position?
He is the Minister of Petroleum and Natural Gas, Government of India, at Cabinet rank. The PM India portfolio listing as on 25 July 2026 confirms this. He has held the portfolio since 7 July 2021 and was re-appointed in June 2024. Ministerial Journey.
Which ministries has he headed before?
He was Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Housing and Urban Affairs from 2017, and Cabinet Minister for the same ministry from 2021 to June 2024. He was Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Civil Aviation from 2019 to 2021, and a Minister of State in Commerce and Industry over the same period. All of these are historical roles.
Is he a member of the Lok Sabha or the Rajya Sabha?
The Rajya Sabha. He has represented Uttar Pradesh since January 2018 and was re-elected in November 2020. The current term ends on 25 November 2026. Parliamentary Career.
Did he contest a Lok Sabha election?
Yes. He contested Amritsar, Punjab, in the 2019 general election and was not elected. Gurjeet Singh Aujla won by 99,626 votes.
What was his career before politics?
He spent 39 years in the Indian Foreign Service (1974–2013). He served as India's Permanent Representative to the United Nations in Geneva (2002–05) and New York (2009–13), and presided over the UN Security Council in August 2011 and November 2012. Diplomatic Career.
Where did he study?
He studied at the University of Delhi (Hindu College): a BA (Hons) in History in 1971 and an MA in History in 1973, according to the official biography of the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas.
What books has he written?
Perilous Interventions: The Security Council and the Politics of Chaos (HarperCollins India, 2016) and Delusional Politics (Viking/Penguin India, 2018). Books & Writings.
What is India's current level of ethanol blending?
PPAC reports 20.0% for Ethanol Supply Year 2025-26 up to August 2026. The ministry says the E20 target was reached in 2025-26, ahead of the original 2030 timeline. Biofuels & Ethanol.
How dependent is India on imported crude oil?
PPAC puts crude import dependence at 88.7% for FY 2025-26 (provisional), on a consumption basis. Energy Security.
What is India Energy Week?
An annual energy conference and exhibition held under the patronage of the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas since 2023. The 2026 edition was held in Goa from 27 to 30 January. India Energy Week.
Is this an official Government of India website?
No. It is an independently developed informational website that documents publicly available information and links to official sources. It does not represent the Government of India, any ministry or any political party.
How current is the information?
Content was compiled and checked on 23 September 2026. Statistics show their own reference period, and many FY 2025-26 figures are provisional. Always check the linked source for the latest data.
How can I report an error?
Contact Mr. Digant Sharma at im@digantsharma.com or +91-9769999960, with the page and the source for the correction.
Sources
- PM India — Portfolios of the Union Council of Ministers (as on 25.07.2026) — pmindia.gov.in/en/news_updates/portfolios-of-the-union-council-of-mini…
- Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas — Meet the Minister — mopng.gov.in/en/about-us/meet-the-minister
- Sansad (Rajya Sabha) — sitting members data (member record 2371) — sansad.in/api_rs/member/sitting-members
- IndiaVotes — Amritsar, Lok Sabha 2019 result — indiavotes.com/lok-sabha-details/2019/punjab/amritsar/9893/7/17
- PPAC — Snapshot of India's Oil & Gas Data, August 2026 (PDF) — ppac.gov.in/download.php?file=rep_studies/1789735879_Final__Snapshot_o…
- United Nations press release BIO/4081 (8 May 2009), archived copy — web.archive.org/web/20180115023354/http://www.un.org:80/press/en/2009/…