Three Indian-flagged oil tankers transit through Strait of Hormuz

📌 Summary:

• Three Indian-flagged crude oil tankers transited the Strait of Hormuz on Saturday (June 20, 2026) and are en route to India, Union Minister Sarbananda Sonowal said
• The tankers carry over 8.6 lakh tonnes of crude cargo and 94 Indian crew members
• The three vessels — Desh Vaibhav, Desh Vibhor and Sanmar Herald — are expected to arrive in India between June 24 and July 1
• Significance: the safe transit comes against the backdrop of West Asia tensions and disruptions around the Strait of Hormuz, underlining India's energy-supply and maritime-security exposure to the chokepoint

🎯 UPSC Relevance: GS3 — maritime/energy security and chokepoint vulnerability; GS2 — West Asia stability and its impact on India's crude imports.

📝 Prelims Facts:

• The Strait of Hormuz links the Persian Gulf with the Gulf of Oman; it is one of the world's most critical oil-transit chokepoints
• Tankers named: Desh Vaibhav, Desh Vibhor, Sanmar Herald
• India imports the bulk of its crude oil, a large share routed through the Strait of Hormuz

🔑 Key Term: Chokepoint — a narrow, strategically vital maritime passage (e.g., Strait of Hormuz) whose disruption can sharply affect global energy flows and prices.