Oil firms delivered a body blow to businesses Friday, raising 19-kg commercial LPG cylinder prices by ₹993 amid soaring international energy costs. In Delhi, the new rate stands at ₹3,071.5, reflecting the third uptick since late February’s geopolitical flare-up in the Middle East.
Domestic consumers, however, breathe easy. With over 330 million household connections, IOCL assured no changes to subsidized LPG rates. This stability contrasts sharply with commercial sector pressures.
The sequence of increases began with a modest ₹115 bump in March, followed by ₹200 on April 1. IOCL attributes the hikes to unrelenting global price pressures but notes petrol, diesel, and ATF remain frozen.
‘We’re shouldering the international cost escalation to protect key sectors like aviation,’ IOCL explained. Airlines and travelers thus avoid ripple effects from crude oil’s wild ride.
Government intervention adds another layer. Starting March 27, 2026, export curbs via SAED and RIC aim to hoard petroleum products domestically. Biweekly tweaks, last updated April 11, now peg diesel exports at ₹23/liter, ATF at ₹33/liter, and petrol at nil for the May 1 period.
Finance Ministry officials clarified these measures track average global prices of crude, petrol, diesel, and ATF. Crucially, no shifts in domestic excise duties mean petrol pumps and households see no price tags change.
As West Asia’s crisis simmers, India’s dual approach—price absorption by firms and export restrictions—fortifies energy security, prioritizing the common citizen over commercial volatility.
