The Central Government has increased fuel prices once again, and it feels like this is happening too often. Petrol rates have gone up by Rs 2.61 per liter, while diesel rates have increased by Rs 2.71 per liter. The revised rates came into effect immediately on Monday, that part was quick.
This is the fourth fuel price hike since the 15th of this month. Over the last 10 days alone, petrol prices have increased by a total of Rs 7.35 per liter. During the same period, diesel prices rose by Rs 7.53 per liter.
After this latest revision, fuel prices are now sitting at high levels in a number of areas across the country. In Macherla in Palnadu district, Kanchili in Srikakulam district, and Kuppam in Chittoor district, petrol touched Rs 118.39 per liter. Diesel in these places also climbed to Rs 106.10 per liter.
These figures are among the highest levels seen since 2022. Fuel prices had stayed mostly steady for nearly two years, until these recent increases showed up.
Before the current round of hikes, the Centre had reduced fuel prices by Rs 2 per liter during the 2024 Lok Sabha election period. Now, the latest increases have effectively cancelled out that earlier relief in many regions.
Of course, the repeated jump in fuel cost could pressure transportation spending and day to day household budgets, especially for people who rely on private vehicles, and for the commercial transport side too.
The most recent uptick arrived while international crude oil prices were showing a decline. On Monday, reports said Brent crude oil dropped by almost 5 percent. Market analysts also tied the fall to hopes for a potential peace agreement between the United States and Iran.
Even so, despite the crude oil drop, domestic fuel prices in India still moved upward.
Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge has criticized the fuel price hike and he accused the government of adding extra financial pressure on common people. In a post on the social media platform X, he asked who actually benefits from these repeated fuel price increases, and he said the hikes are slowly hurting household savings, day by day.
Rahul Gandhi too, a senior Congress leader, criticized the timing of the move. He claimed that the government raised the prices pretty soon after the assembly elections ended. He also alleged that fuel prices were being increased gradually, in phases, like a managed process rather than one clear step.
When fuel prices keep going up it usually brings worry among consumers, mainly because transport costs tend to ripple into prices of goods and services. Experts say that if petrol and diesel keep getting more expensive then it can help fuel broader inflation across the economy.
Right now, people across the country should be ready to pay higher rates at fuel stations since the revised prices remain in effect.
