LPG cylinder price hiked by ₹50, petrol & diesel by ₹2

New Delhi

The central government has increased the price of domestic LPG cylinders by ₹50. Union Oil Minister Hardeep Singh Puri announced the hike on Monday, saying it applies to both subsidised and general customers.

Under this revision, Ujjwala scheme beneficiaries in Delhi will now pay ₹553 for a 14.2-kg cylinder, up from ₹503. Regular customers will pay ₹853.

This is the first price hike since March last year when the rates were cut by ₹100. However, just last week, prices of commercial LPG cylinders were reduced by ₹41, bringing some relief to hotels, restaurants, and other businesses.

In another development, the government increased the excise duty on petrol to ₹13 per litre and on diesel to ₹10 per litre. However, the Oil Minister clarified that this change will not affect retail prices. Oil marketing companies will bear the impact instead.

The revised excise duty rates will take effect from April 8, 2025. The government has decided not to pass on the hike to the public, considering that international oil prices have dropped and a reduction in retail prices was already due.

Excise duty on petrol, diesel rise by ₹2

The central government has decided to raise excise duty on petrol and diesel by ₹2 per litre starting Tuesday. As per the Finance Department’s notification, the duty on petrol will go up from ₹19.90 to ₹21.90 per litre, and diesel from ₹15.80 to ₹17.80 per litre. However, this increase may not affect retail prices, as oil companies are likely to bear the burden. With global crude prices falling to $63 per barrel, this move is expected to boost government revenue without impacting consumers for now.

Fueling the irony: Yatre meets hike

Karnataka CM Siddaramaiah poked fun at PM Modi for hiking fuel prices on the same day BJP launched its ‘Janaakrosha Yatre’ against price rise. “Modi has exposed the Yatre’s hypocrisy by increasing petrol, diesel, and gas rates himself,” he said. Despite falling crude oil prices, the Centre raised excise duty and LPG costs. Siddaramaiah quipped that BJP should explain this “anti-people economics” to the public, especially when everything from rice to restaurant food is burning wallets, not just stoves.