Government bites the bullet; diesel prices hiked by Rs 5

14 Sep 2012 Evaluate

After much deliberation the government has finally decided to bite the bullet of much contentious issue of fuel price hike and have increased diesel prices, however it left kerosene and petrol prices untouched but decided to limit the number of subsidised gas cylinders to six per household per year.

The cabinet committee on Political Affairs (CCPA) increased diesel prices by Rs 5 per litre from Friday, the hike is the first in 15 months and translates as a 14 percent rise, including taxes.  The committee also decided to limit the number of subsidised cooking gas cylinders per household to six per year, any LPG cylinders bought over this ceiling will be at market rates and the unsubsidised market rate will add up to around Rs 750 per cylinder.

Diesel, domestic LPG and PDS kerosene rates have not been changed since June 2011. The decision might pinch the common people but it is likely to help avert a sovereign credit downgrade and has raised expectations of more reforms to reverse an investment slump in the country. Ratings agencies Standard & Poor's and Fitch have earlier cautioned that a widening deficit have put India on the brink of losing the investment grade status.

Reserve bank of India too has been repeatedly saying that government should take initiatives to plug the hole in its finance to prevent country’s fiscal deficit going above a target of 5.1 percent of gross domestic product. The latest decision has raised hopes that government is finally moving on the reforms and economy front.

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