India has raised fuel prices for the first time in four years, with petrol now at ₹97.77 per litre and diesel at ₹90.67 in New Delhi, as the war in the Middle East disrupts crude supplies and drives global prices higher. The increase of about ₹3 per litre nationwide comes amid a nearly 50 percent surge in Brent crude since the conflict began.
The government said the hike was necessary as India, the world’s third-largest oil importer, relies on overseas supplies for 90 percent of its crude, half of which passes through the Strait of Hormuz. Disruptions at the key transit route have tightened supplies and pushed up costs.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi urged citizens to treat fuel-saving as an act of patriotism, encouraging public transport, carpooling, reduced travel abroad, and lower gold purchases. Authorities in New Delhi also rolled out mandatory work-from-home days for some government employees to cut fuel use. Opposition parties accused the government of delaying the hike until after state elections concluded earlier this month.
The increase has drawn sharp reactions from the public. Taxi drivers and commuters said even a ₹1 rise affects daily survival, with many already struggling under inflation. In Jaipur, petrol prices climbed to ₹107.97 per litre and diesel to ₹93.23, reflecting higher transport costs in some states.
India had been one of the last major economies to pass higher crude costs to consumers, with refiners absorbing losses until now. The hike underscores the strain of the global oil shock, as Brent crude continues to climb nearly 50 percent since the war began, leaving economies dependent on imports scrambling to manage the fallout.
