The government on Thursday dismissed media reports suggesting that petrol and diesel prices may be hiked by ₹25–28 per litre soon after the assembly elections as “mischievous and misleading”, saying that no such proposal is under consideration.
"There are some news reports suggesting a price hike of petrol and diesel. It is hereby clarified that there is no such proposal under consideration by the government," the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas said in a post on X.
The clarification came after a report by Kotak Institutional Equities hinted of a steep increase in petrol and diesel prices once the polling for assembly elections in states like West Bengal ends on 29 April. Kotak projected a ₹25-28 a litre increase in price based on crude oil staying close to $120 per barrel.
The ministry said such reports are “designed to create fear and panic amongst the citizens and are mischievous and misleading”.
“In fact, India is the only country where petrol and diesel prices haven't increased in the last four years,” it noted. “Government of India and oil PSUs have taken relentless steps in order to insulate the Indian citizens from steep increases in international prices.”
International oil prices spiked ever since the US and Israel attacked Iran on 28 February, and Tehran effectively shut the Strait in a sweeping retaliation.
The Strait of Hormuz is a critical route, accounting for about 20% of daily global oil supplies and 40% of Indian crude imports. It is one of the world's most critical energy arteries, linking the Persian Gulf to global markets and handling roughly a fifth of global oil trade along with significant volumes of liquefied natural gas.
After the Iran war, oil prices spiked from around $70 per barrel to $119, then corrected. Renewed tensions have pushed Brent, the world's most well-known crude oil benchmark, to $103- $106 per barrel.
Despite a more than 50% rise in input crude oil prices, petrol and diesel rates have remained unchanged in India. Petrol is priced at ₹94.77 per litre in the national capital, and diesel costs ₹87.67 per litre.
Iran-US war: What's latest?
Pakistan had been planning to host a second round of talks between the US and Iran, but the White House reportedly suspended Vice President JD Vance’s scheduled visit to Islamabad after Iran refused to engage in renewed negotiations, AP reported.
Iran has acknowledged the extension of the ceasefire but has not indicated any willingness to participate in fresh talks to end the conflict, according to state television.
At the same time, Iranian semiofficial media outlets reported that the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps launched an attack on a third vessel in the Strait of Hormuz on Wednesday, raising further doubts about diplomatic efforts to de-escalate tensions.
Nour News, Fars, and Mehr reported that the ship, identified as Euphoria, was left stranded near the Iranian coast, though no further details were provided. Iranian state television also said the Guard had already seized the other two vessels previously targeted.
(With inputs from agencies)
