Fuel Prices Up Again and Here's Why
Petrol and diesel prices rose today due to higher government excise duty and costlier global oil. This hike impacts daily life, raising transport and goods prices.
It was just another normal morning. The city was slowly waking up. Tea stalls had started serving hot chai, and office-goers were waiting at bus stops like any other day. But suddenly, news spread like wildfire—petrol and diesel prices had gone up again.
People at fuel stations were shocked to see the new rates on digital boards. In Kolkata, petrol now costs ?103.94 per litre, and in Mumbai, it has reached ?104.21 per litre. Diesel prices have also increased in a similar way.
But why did this happen?
The main reason is the government’s decision to increase the excise duty, which is the tax charged on every litre of petrol and diesel. On top of that, crude oil prices in the international market have been rising. Since India buys most of its oil from other countries, we have to pay more when global prices go up. If the rupee becomes weaker compared to the US dollar, oil becomes even more expensive for India.
To handle these rising costs and collect more money for government spending, the excise duty has been increased by ?2 per litre. This caused petrol and diesel prices to rise overnight.
But this is not just about spending more at fuel stations. When fuel prices go up, everything else also becomes costlier. Trucks that carry vegetables, fruits, and groceries run on diesel. When diesel becomes expensive, transport costs go up, and shopkeepers raise their prices.
Soon, we may also see a rise in bus, taxi, and auto fares. For people who travel long distances or use their vehicles for work, their monthly expenses will increase sharply.
Small businesses are also affected. Their transport and delivery costs rise, and it becomes difficult to keep prices low. Sadly, it’s always the common man who suffers. People try to adjust by cutting down on outings, switching to public transport, or saving money elsewhere.
All across India today, people are feeling the same frustration and worry. As fuel prices keep changing daily based on global market rates, everyone is asking the same question—
When will the prices come down?
