Gandhinagar, February 2, 2026: Under the guidance of the Ministry of Petroleum & Natural Gas, Government of India, Indian Oil Corporation Limited (IOCL) — in association with other oil and gas PSUs including BPCL, HPCL, and GAIL — organized a grand inaugural ceremony for the nationwide fuel conservation campaign ‘Saksham 2025-26’ (Sanrakshan Kshamta Mahotsav) today at Pandit Deendayal Energy University (PDEU), Gandhinagar. Driven by the tagline “Conserve Oil & Gas, Go Green” (“तेल और गैस बचाओ, हरित ऊर्जा अपनाओ”), this public awareness campaign will run across the state from February 1 to February 15, 2026.
The Hon’ble Minister of State for Law and Justice, Energy and Petrochemicals, Legislative and Parliamentary Affairs, Government of Gujarat, Shri Kaushik Kantibhai Vekariya, graced the occasion as the Chief Guest. The Minister officially flagged off the campaign from the PDEU campus, appealing to citizens to fulfill their responsibility toward energy saving and environmental protection. This initiative, which has been active since 1991, aims to strengthen the country’s energy security by reducing dependency on crude oil and promoting sustainable energy solutions..
The inaugural ceremony featured a Welcome Address by Shri Sanjib Behera, Executive Director & State Head, Gujarat, Indian Oil Corporation Limited. During the event, the Saksham 2025-26 pledge was administered in Hindi by Shri Achint Bhavsar, State Head (Retail), Gujarat, Bharat Petroleum Corporation Limited , and in English by Shri Subhendu Mohanty, Chief General Manager – Retail & Zonal Head, Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Limited.
Furthermore, Biplob Biswas, Executive Director & Refinery Head, Gujarat Refinery, Baroda, Indian Oil Corporation Limited, and Prof. S. Sundar Manoharan, Director General, Pandit Deendayal Energy University (PDEU), Gandhinagar, delivered special addresses emphasizing the critical need for energy conservation. The Keynote Address was delivered by the Hon’ble Minister, Shri Kaushik Kantibhai Vekariya. The event was also honored by the presence of Hon’ble MLAs on the dais, including Divyash Akbari, Jamnagar MLA, and Mukesh Patel, Mehsana MLA.
Throughout the fortnight, various activities such as the Saksham Cyclothon, Walkathon, debates, and group talks will take place across all districts. Major initiatives include graffiti and wall paintings at six key locations, fuel-efficient driving contests, LPG awareness programs, and technical seminars for industrial sectors. Additionally, over 300 drivers will be trained at each State Transport (ST) depot to promote sustainable energy practices. The campaign will conclude with a valedictory function in Ahmedabad on February 16, 2026.
