GAIL (India) Ltd. (erstwhile Gas Authority of India Ltd), India's principal gas transmission and marketing company, was set up by the Government of India in August 1984 to create gas sector infrastructure for sustained development of the natural gas sector in the country.

The 2800-km Hazira-Vijaipur-Jagdishpur (HVJ) pipeline became operational in 1991. During 1991-93, three LPG plants were constructed and some regional pipelines acquired, enabling GAIL to begin its regional gas distribution in various parts of India.

GAIL began its city gas distribution in Delhi in 1997 by setting up nine CNG stations, catering to the city's vast public transport fleet.

In 1999, GAIL set up northern India's only petrochemical plant at Pata.

GAIL became the first Infrastructure Provider Category II Licensee and signed the country's first Service Level Agreement for leasing bandwidth in the Delhi-Vijaipur sector in 2001, through its telecom business GAILTEL. In 2001, GAIL commissioned world's longest and India's first Cross Country LPG Transmission Pipeline from Jamnagar to Loni.

GAIL today has reached new milestones with its strategic diversification into Petrochemicals, Telecom and Liquid Hydrocarbons besides gas infrastructure. The company has also extended its presence in Power, Liquefied Natural Gas re-gasification, City Gas Distribution and Exploration & Production through equity and joint ventures participations.Incorporating the new-found energy into its corporate identity, Gas Authority of India was renamed GAIL (India) Limited on November 22, 2002.