RTI for Petroleum and Oil & Gas: ONGC, PNGRB, and Fuel Policy

Petroleum and natural gas touch every Indian household — through cooking gas cylinders, petrol and diesel at the pump, piped natural gas in kitchens and vehicles, and the price of almost every transported good. The policy, regulation, and public sector companies that govern this sector are among the most consequential institutions in India's economic life. They are also, all of them, public authorities under the Right to Information Act, 2005. This guide explains which petroleum sector bodies are subject to RTI, what information they must provide, and how to frame effective applications across the sector's most common public interest questions.

The Petroleum Sector Public Authorities

MoPNG (Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas) is the Central Government ministry with overall responsibility for policy in the petroleum, natural gas, and LPG sectors. It sets pricing policy, administers welfare schemes like PM Ujjwala Yojana, and provides oversight to the PSUs under it. As a ministry of the Central Government, it is a public authority under Section 2(h) of the RTI Act.

ONGC (Oil and Natural Gas Corporation Ltd) is India's largest oil and gas exploration and production company, operating in India's offshore and onshore fields and internationally through its subsidiary ONGC Videsh. ONGC is a Navratna Central PSU under MoPNG and a public authority under the RTI Act.

OIL India Ltd is a Central Navratna PSU engaged in upstream oil and gas exploration, primarily in Assam and the northeastern states, as well as internationally. It is a public authority under the RTI Act.

IOCL (Indian Oil Corporation Ltd) is India's largest oil company and a Fortune Global 500 company. A Maharatna Central PSU, it refines, transports, and markets petroleum products including petrol, diesel, LPG, ATF, and lubricants. IOCL operates the largest pipeline network in India and a significant network of petrol pump dealerships. It is a public authority under the RTI Act.

BPCL (Bharat Petroleum Corporation Ltd) and HPCL (Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Ltd) are the other two major Central PSU downstream oil marketing companies, both Navratna entities under MoPNG. Both are public authorities under the RTI Act.

GAIL (India) Ltd is the Central PSU responsible for the transmission of natural gas through India's national pipeline network, as well as gas processing, petrochemicals production, and city gas distribution equity investments. A Maharatna PSU, GAIL is a public authority under the RTI Act.

PNGRB (Petroleum and Natural Gas Regulatory Board) was established under the PNGRB Act, 2006 as the statutory independent regulator for the downstream petroleum and gas sector. It regulates access to pipelines, tariffs, city gas distribution (CGD) authorisations, and consumer grievances. As a body established by an Act of Parliament, PNGRB is a public authority under the RTI Act.

PPAC (Petroleum Planning and Analysis Cell) functions under MoPNG and provides data, analysis, and price revision calculations to the Ministry. It is a Central Government body and a public authority under the RTI Act.

DGH (Directorate General of Hydrocarbons) is a technical arm of MoPNG that oversees upstream licensing, the Open Acreage Licensing Policy (OALP) block auctions, and hydrocarbon data management. It is a Central Government body and a public authority.

All of these are Central Government bodies or Central PSUs. RTI applications to all of them are filed at rtionline.gov.in. The ₹10 fee under the RTI (Regulation of Fee and Cost) Rules, 2005 applies; BPL cardholders are exempt. Responses are due within 30 days under Section 7(1). First Appeal under Section 19(1) must be filed within 30 days. Second Appeal goes to the Central Information Commission (CIC) under Section 19(3).

Private Companies: The Important Boundary

Several major companies operating in India's oil and gas sector are private entities. Reliance Industries Limited, the operator of the KG-D6 block and India's largest private refinery at Jamnagar, is not a public authority. BP India, TotalEnergies India, and Shell India are subsidiaries of foreign multinationals — also not public authorities. Cairn India (now Vedanta) is a private operator. None of these companies are subject to the RTI Act.

The qualification — which matters greatly — is that the government records about these private operators are fully accessible via RTI to the public authority that holds them. DGH holds the exploration contracts (PSCs and RSCs) for all upstream blocks, including those operated by Reliance and other private companies. MoPNG holds policy correspondence and approval orders relating to private sector gas pricing. PNGRB holds authorisation orders and tariff decisions relating to private-sector pipelines. These government-held records about private operators are accessible through RTI to the relevant public authority.

RTI Use Case 1: Fuel Price Methodology and Components

The retail price of petrol and diesel in India has long been a subject of public debate, particularly when prices are high despite low global crude oil prices. The price structure has multiple components: the crude oil import cost, refinery margin, excise duty (central), state VAT/sales tax, dealer commission, and sometimes additional cesses.

PPAC publishes regular price build-up data for petrol and diesel at select cities on its website. But for more detailed or specific information, RTI is the appropriate route. An application to PPAC or MoPNG asking for: "the formula and all input data used to determine the current retail selling price of petrol and diesel at city, disaggregated by component (crude cost, refining margin, central excise, state VAT, dealer commission, transport charges, and any cess)" — is a well-targeted request to which there is no legitimate exemption. Fuel prices are determined by policy and formula, not by commercial confidentiality. The CIC has confirmed in various orders that fuel price computation data is disclosable.

RTI Use Case 2: LPG Subsidy and PM Ujjwala Yojana

The Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana (PMUY) provides free LPG connections to Below Poverty Line (BPL) households. It is a flagship welfare scheme administered through the three oil marketing companies (IOCL, BPCL, HPCL), with MoPNG oversight. Subsidy for PMUY and other LPG consumers is paid through the Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) mechanism.

RTI applications in this space have two main uses. First, at the individual level: a beneficiary who believes they should be receiving subsidy in their linked bank account — or who applied for a connection under PMUY and has not received it — can RTI the relevant oil marketing company's CPIO (IOCL, BPCL, or HPCL depending on the distributor) to ask: whether their consumer number is registered under PMUY; whether subsidy credits have been issued to their linked bank account; and the status of any pending connection application. The response often helps identify whether a subsidy has been diverted or a connection issuance has been held up.

Second, at the policy and audit level: RTI to MoPNG or to a specific OMC for aggregate data on PMUY connections issued in a district or state, the total subsidy amount disbursed in a financial year, and the number of PMUY connections that are active versus inactive (not refilled in 12+ months) is valuable for policy researchers, journalists, and social auditors of welfare scheme implementation.

RTI Use Case 3: Petrol Pump Dealership Allotment

The allotment of petrol pump dealerships — a highly sought-after commercial licence in urban and semi-urban India — by IOCL, BPCL, and HPCL has historically been a source of controversy and allegations of favouritism. Each OMC publishes dealership advertisement notifications, runs a selection process, and allots dealerships based on stated criteria.

RTI to the relevant OMC (IOCL, BPCL, or HPCL) is one of the most effective tools for examining whether a dealership allotment was made fairly. A well-framed application asks: the complete merit list for the dealership allotment at location/district under advertisement number X; the score of each applicant across each selection parameter; the criteria and weightages applied in scoring; whether the applicant with the highest score under the stated criteria received the allotment; and if not, the reason why a lower-scoring applicant was preferred.

These are administrative records of a public commercial licensing process. They are not commercially confidential under Section 8(1)(d) — the OMC is not a party in a commercial negotiation; it is exercising a licensing function of public consequence. Refusals of this kind of request have been repeatedly reversed at the CIC.

RTI Use Case 4: PNGRB City Gas Distribution Authorisation

PNGRB authorises companies to develop and operate City Gas Distribution (CGD) networks — providing piped natural gas (PNG) to households and CNG to vehicles — in Geographical Areas (GAs) across India. CGD authorisations are awarded through PNGRB bidding rounds, and they confer an exclusivity zone for a defined period.

RTI to PNGRB can yield: the terms of the CGD authorisation granted to company for Geographical Area; the Minimum Work Programme (MWP) committed by the authorised entity; the tariff (both transmission and retail) orders issued by PNGRB for the network; any complaints filed against the CGD operator and the disposal of those complaints; and any show-cause notice or enforcement action by PNGRB against the operator for non-compliance with the authorisation conditions.

This is directly relevant to consumers in CGD areas who are experiencing poor service, delayed connections, or pricing disputes. The authorisation document specifies the obligations the operator committed to. If a CGD operator in your city is not extending pipeline coverage as per its MWP or is pricing CNG above PNGRB-approved levels, RTI for the authorisation and tariff order is the starting point for any formal complaint.

RTI Use Case 5: Pipeline Routing and Land Acquisition

GAIL, IOCL, HPCL, and ONGC operate thousands of kilometres of petroleum and natural gas pipelines across India. Where new pipelines are planned or existing ones are being expanded, land must be acquired or rights-of-way obtained from landowners. Communities living along proposed pipeline routes — or affected by existing pipelines' operations — have legitimate interests in knowing the routing plans, the applicable safety standards, and the environmental clearance conditions.

RTI to the relevant PSU (GAIL for gas pipelines, IOCL/HPCL for petroleum product pipelines) can obtain: the approved route map for the pipeline name/project through district/village; the right-of-way acquisition process and compensation rates offered; the environment clearance obtained from MoEFCC and the conditions imposed; and the emergency response plan for a pipeline rupture in the area.

Section 8(1)(a) may be invoked for specific security-sensitive elements — such as the precise GPS coordinates of every valve station on a cross-country pipeline. But the broad routing, the acquisition process, the environmental clearance, and the emergency plan for communities near the pipeline are all administrative and regulatory records that citizens along pipeline corridors are entitled to.

RTI Use Case 6: Upstream Block Allocation (OALP/DSF)

The transition from the old Nomination regime and NELP (New Exploration Licensing Policy) to OALP (Open Acreage Licensing Policy) and DSF (Discovered Small Field) bid rounds has changed how upstream hydrocarbon blocks are allocated. Under OALP, the bidding process is continuous and transparent by design.

RTI to MoPNG or DGH can provide: the terms of the Revenue Sharing Contract (RSC) awarded to company for exploration block name; the work programme committed; the bid parameters and scores for the specific round; the current status of exploration or production commitments; and any extensions or waivers granted to the operator. For older blocks allocated under the PSC regime before OALP, the contracts are on the public record and RTI can obtain specific terms not publicly available.

This information is relevant to researchers studying India's upstream hydrocarbon sector, to communities near exploration blocks, and to journalists examining whether operators have delivered on their committed work programmes.

RTI Use Case 7: Refinery Expansion and Environmental Clearance

India's major refineries — IOCL's Panipat, Mathura, Barauni, Paradip, and Haldia refineries; BPCL's Mumbai, Kochi, and Bina refineries; HPCL's Mumbai and Visakhapatnam refineries; HMEL's Bathinda refinery — are among the largest industrial facilities in the country. Expansions and upgrades require environmental clearances from the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC).

RTI can be used to access: the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) report submitted by the refinery operator for an expansion project; the public consultation record from the EIA process; the environmental clearance granted, including the conditions attached; the compliance reports submitted by the operator to MoEFCC or the State Pollution Control Board; and the monitoring data for air quality and water quality at the refinery site. This information is valuable for communities near refinery facilities and for environmental researchers.

RTI Use Case 8: ONGC, OIL, and PSU Employee Matters

As Central PSUs, ONGC, OIL India, IOCL, BPCL, HPCL, and GAIL are fully subject to RTI for their internal administrative functions. RTI can be used to access: the recruitment notification details and selection results for a specific batch (ONGC conducts GATE-based recruitment as well as its own examination; OIL India has its own process); seniority lists for specific service cadres; transfer and posting orders; promotion criteria and DPC (Departmental Promotion Committee) decisions; and the outcome of disciplinary proceedings.

These administrative questions are treated the same way as they would be for any Central Government department. The commercial nature of the PSU does not shield its human resource administration from RTI scrutiny. Section 8(1)(j) — which protects purely personal information with no public activity connection — does not protect recruitment selection records, seniority lists, or general service condition details. Those records are about how a public authority exercises its employment functions, not about purely private matters.

Practical Guidance for Petroleum Sector RTI

Know the right body for each question. Fuel price methodology goes to PPAC or MoPNG. LPG subsidy records go to the relevant OMC's CPIO. Petrol pump allotment goes to IOCL, BPCL, or HPCL depending on which company allotted the dealership. City gas regulation goes to PNGRB. Pipeline routing and land acquisition goes to the specific pipeline-owning PSU. Upstream block terms go to DGH. Filing with the wrong body costs time; a Section 6(3) transfer adds weeks.

Commercial confidence is not a shield for public sector licensing decisions. When an OMC allots a petrol pump dealership or when PNGRB grants a CGD authorisation, those are public licensing functions. The Section 8(1)(d) commercial confidence exemption applies to genuinely private commercial information shared in confidence — not to the exercise of public licensing powers. Do not accept a Section 8(1)(d) refusal of a dealership selection record without challenging it.

Aggregate welfare scheme data is fully disclosable. RTI for district-level or state-level data about PMUY connections issued, subsidy disbursed, or active versus inactive connections is legitimate public interest information about a flagship government scheme. There is no basis for exemption.

Section 6(2) of the RTI Act explicitly provides that applicants are not required to give any reason for seeking information. You do not need to justify your interest in fuel price components or LPG subsidy data.

Filing Your Petroleum Sector RTI Application

MoPNG, PPAC, DGH, ONGC, OIL India, IOCL, BPCL, HPCL, GAIL, and PNGRB are all Central Government public authorities or Central PSUs. RTI applications to all of them are filed at rtionline.gov.in. The ₹10 fee under the RTI (Regulation of Fee and Cost) Rules, 2005 applies; BPL cardholders are exempt. Information is free if the CPIO misses the 30-day deadline under Section 7(5).

First Appeal under Section 19(1) of the RTI Act must be filed within 30 days of the date of decision or the expiry of the 30-day period before the body's own First Appellate Authority. Second Appeal under Section 19(3) goes to the Central Information Commission. A CPIO who wilfully refuses information that should have been disclosed may face a penalty under Section 20 of the RTI Act — ₹250 per day up to a maximum of ₹25,000.

Petroleum sector RTI spans household welfare (LPG subsidies), commercial fairness (dealership allotments), consumer protection (CGD tariffs), environmental accountability (refinery clearances), and upstream resource governance (block allocation terms). All of these are domains where the RTI Act gives ordinary citizens direct and enforceable access to government information.

MoPNG, ONGC, OIL India, IOCL, BPCL, HPCL, GAIL, PNGRB, PPAC, and DGH are Central Government public authorities or Central PSUs. RTI applications are filed at rtionline.gov.in, with the Central Information Commission (CIC) as the second appeal authority. If you are preparing an RTI application about fuel pricing, LPG subsidy, petrol pump allotment, city gas regulation, or upstream licensing, RTISathi.com provides guides and sample formats for Central Government RTI applications.