Central government raises excise duty on petrol and diesel by ₹2 per litre

Petrol and diesel prices in India are set to rise as the government has hiked excise duty on both fuels by Rs 2 per litre. The move comes at a time when global crude oil prices are actually on a downward trend, driven by fears of a global trade war sparked by the US administration’s reciprocal tariffs.

This hike is expected to impact consumers already dealing with inflationary pressures.

While the government may be looking to boost revenues, the timing has sparked concerns, especially amid the uncertainty surrounding Donald Trump’s tariffs, as higher fuel costs could further squeeze household budgets and drive up transportation and commodity prices.

As per the latest notification by the Finance Ministry, the said change will come into effect on April 8, 2025.