India has intensified its oil purchases from Russia, importing nearly 1.98 million barrels per day (bpd) in March, a significant increase from earlier months. This surge comes as the country faces a crude supply shortfall due to disruptions in the Middle East, particularly following attacks on Iran. To mitigate the impact, India has also revived oil supplies from Africa, Iran, and Venezuela, with imports from Angola reaching 327,000 bpd, nearly three times the previous month's volume. However, overall crude imports dropped to 4.5 million bpd in March from 5.2 million bpd in February. Analysts caution that while diversifying sources is beneficial, African crude may not fully substitute for Middle Eastern oil due to differences in crude grades. Despite rising oil prices, the Indian government has maintained fuel prices for four years, although a potential increase of up to 28 rupees (30 cents) per litre could follow key state elections. The government has taken measures to shield citizens from international price hikes, but the situation remains precarious.