Petrol, Diesel Prices Increased by Rs 3 Across India; CNG Rates in Delhi Raised by Rs 2

Petrol and diesel prices were increased by Rs 3 per litre across India on Friday as rising global crude oil prices and the escalating conflict in West Asia continued to put pressure on domestic fuel costs.

Following the revision, petrol in Delhi now costs Rs 97.77 per litre, up from Rs 94.77, while diesel prices rose from Rs 87.67 to Rs 90.67 per litre.

The hike has also impacted other major cities. Petrol prices climbed to Rs 108.74 per litre in Kolkata, Rs 106.68 in Mumbai and Rs 103.67 in Chennai. Diesel rates increased to Rs 95.13 in Kolkata, Rs 93.14 in Mumbai and Rs 95.25 in Chennai.

Meanwhile, compressed natural gas (CNG) prices in Delhi were also revised upward by Rs 2 per kg, taking the retail price from Rs 85 to Rs 87.

The latest increase comes after weeks of pressure on state-run oil marketing companies as global crude prices surged sharply due to tensions in West Asia. Despite rising import costs, fuel prices in India had remained largely unchanged for nearly 11 weeks before Friday’s revision.

According to reports, the Rs 3 per litre increase only partially offsets the burden caused by higher international crude prices. Public sector oil companies had reportedly been absorbing a significant portion of the cost increase to avoid a sudden impact on consumers.

Fuel prices in India had remained mostly stable since April 2022, apart from a one-time Rs 2 per litre reduction announced in March 2024 ahead of the Lok Sabha elections. Daily price revisions were effectively paused after the Russia-Ukraine war triggered volatility in global energy markets, with oil companies initially absorbing losses before recovering some ground when crude prices softened.

However, the renewed instability in West Asia has once again pushed oil prices sharply upward. The crude basket imported by India, which averaged around USD 69 per barrel earlier this year, has reportedly surged to nearly USD 113-114 per barrel following the escalation in the region.

Concerns over a fuel price hike had already triggered panic buying at petrol pumps in several states over the past few days. Long queues were reported across parts of Delhi-NCR, Uttar Pradesh, Gujarat, Odisha and Bihar as motorists rushed to fill their tanks amid fears of a steeper increase.

Many consumers reportedly opted for full-tank refills after speculation spread that petrol and diesel prices could rise by anywhere between Rs 5 and Rs 20 per litre.