Petrol and Diesel Prices in India Remain Unchanged

On March 28, 2026, petrol and diesel prices across major Indian cities remained largely unchanged despite the government's recent reduction in special additional excise duty on petrol and diesel.

Government Reduction in Excise Duty

The finance ministry had cut the additional excise duty on petrol from Rs 13 per litre to Rs 3, while the levy on diesel was reduced from Rs 10 per litre to nil in a notification issued earlier this week. The move aims to ease pressure on oil marketing companies (OMCs) facing strain due to elevated crude oil prices amid the US–Iran conflict.

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Retail Fuel Prices

Despite the reduction in duties, the benefit has not yet been passed on to consumers, with retail petrol and diesel prices continuing to remain steady across major cities. In Delhi, petrol continues to be priced at Rs 94.77 per litre, while diesel stands at Rs 87.67 per litre. Prices remain higher in Mumbai, where petrol is retailing at Rs 103.49 per litre and diesel at Rs 90.03 per litre.

Petrol and Diesel Prices in Major Metro Cities

Among major metro cities, petrol prices remain above Rs 100 per litre in most locations, including Mumbai, Bengaluru, Hyderabad, and Kolkata, while diesel prices continue to remain below the Rs 100 mark in these cities.

Read also: US-Iran Tensions Spark Uptick in Oil Prices Amid Global Market Decline

Factors Influencing Petrol and Diesel Prices in India

Retail fuel prices in India are influenced by several factors, including:

• Price of crude oil in international markets, which is the primary raw material used to produce petrol and diesel
• Rupee-dollar exchange rate, which affects the cost of imported crude oil
• Taxes imposed by the central and state governments, which form a major component of petrol and diesel prices
• Transportation costs and demand–supply dynamics, which also influence the final retail price paid by consumers