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In a significant financial blow to consumers, state-run oil marketing companies have increased the retail prices of petrol and diesel by approximately 90 paise per litre across India today. This adjustment marks the second major fuel price hike within a single week, following a substantial ₹3 per litre increase that was implemented just last Friday. Following today’s revision by the oil companies, the price of petrol in the national capital of Delhi has climbed to ₹98.64 per litre, up from ₹97.77, while diesel has risen to ₹91.58 per litre. The financial impact is even more pronounced in other metropolitan cities; in Mumbai, petrol has reached ₹107.59 per litre and diesel is at ₹94.08, while Kolkata recorded the highest petrol price among the metros at ₹109.70 per litre. Energy sector analysts confirm that these rapid, successive price revisions are a direct response to a steep surge in international Brent crude oil prices. Global oil markets have faced immense volatility due to escalating geopolitical conflicts in West Asia, particularly involving a highly tense standoff between the United States and Iran that has threatened shipping lanes. Because India relies heavily on imports to meet over 85% of its domestic oil requirements, any sharp fluctuation in global crude benchmarks translates directly to local fuel pumps. Commuters and transport unions across the country have expressed deep frustration and anxiety over the twin hikes, noting that the increased costs will immediately inflate daily living expenses. Public transit users and auto-rickshaw drivers in cities like Bengaluru, Jammu, and Delhi have voiced concerns that they have no choice but to absorb the financial burden. Beyond personal commuting, the rise in diesel prices is expected to trigger a cascading effect on the broader economy by increasing freight and logistics costs for essential goods. Trucking associations have hinted that if prices continue to climb, transport freights will have to be raised, which will inevitably push up the retail prices of vegetables, milk, and other daily commodities. The central government is now facing mounting pressure from opposition parties and consumer forums to lower central excise duties to cushion ordinary citizens from global oil shocks.
