Centre Announces ₹50 Hike Per LPG Cylinder; Oil Minister Hardeep Singh Puri Says Subsidised & Non-Subsidised Consumers Will Bear Same Burden
New Delhi: The central government on Monday, April 7, announced a Rs 50 hike in the price of domestic LPG cylinders, a move that will affect both general consumers and beneficiaries of the Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana. The announcement was made by Union Petroleum and Natural Gas Minister Hardeep Singh Puri, during a media briefing in Delhi.
Have a look at his statement here:
The price revision comes amid growing pressure on energy prices and rising concerns about the global crude trends. Addressing the media, Puri emphasised the government’s broader commitment to ensuring clean cooking fuel access for all. “The advantage of the Ujjwala Yojana and overall LPG connections is that today, our brothers and sisters can have freedom from firewood, coal, and cow dung,” he told ANI.
No Immediate Impact from Excise Duty Hike on Fuel
Puri also addressed the Ministry of Finance’s recent notification on excise duty increases, clarifying that consumers will not bear the brunt of the changes, at least for now. “You would have seen a notification from the Ministry of Finance saying that the excise rates are going up by Rs 2 on petrol and diesel. Let me clarify upfront on the record, this will not be passed on to the consumer,” he said.
He further explained that oil marketing companies (OMCs) operate within a deregulated framework and often adjust pricing based on global crude rates and existing inventory levels. “The international price of crude came down to around $60 a barrel, but please remember that our oil marketing companies carry inventories over a 45-day period… the crude inventory that they’re carrying is at $75 on average per barrel,” he added.
Puri concluded by indicating that fuel prices may see some moderation in the near future as OMCs realign with falling global crude prices. “In a deregulated sector, you can expect them to accordingly adjust the market retail price,” he told the news agency.
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