Russia, India's biggest supplier during the quarter, supplied crude at an average cost of $2,408 per tonne, while UAE crude cost $2,213 per tonne

NEW DELHI: India's crude import bill rose 26% year-on-year in the first quarter of 2026-27, despite volumes falling 18%, as the West Asia conflict disrupted supplies and pushed up oil prices.

Atul Mathur is a Senior Assistant Editor at The Times of India with over 27 years of experience in journalism. Based in Delhi, he has spent much of his career reporting on governance, public policy and politics, churning out researched, data-driven stories that impact daily lives. Atul is known for investigative depth and strong human-interest narratives as he strives to bring clarity and context to complex issues. He currently tracks the energy sector, writing on power, renewable energy, coal and mines.