Petrol and diesel prices have been increased for the third time in eight days, with fuel rates crossing ₹112 per litre
May 23, 2026: Fuel prices across India were increased again on Saturday, marking the third hike within the last eight days. Petrol and diesel prices rose by nearly ₹1 per litre, pushing petrol prices in Delhi to ₹99.51 per litre and diesel to ₹92.49. In Mumbai, petrol crossed ₹108 per litre, while several southern cities recorded even higher rates. Oil marketing companies are reportedly facing losses of ₹8-10 per litre due to the ongoing crisis in West Asia, leading to gradual price increases in small intervals.
Among major cities, Hyderabad recorded the highest petrol price at ₹112.81 per litre, followed closely by Thiruvananthapuram at ₹112.64. These two cities were also the only places where diesel prices crossed ₹100 per litre. Other cities such as Patna, Kolkata, Jaipur and Bengaluru also witnessed petrol prices above ₹108. In comparison, Delhi, Goa and several BJP-ruled states like Gujarat, Uttar Pradesh and Haryana reported relatively lower fuel prices due to moderate tax structures.
Fuel prices vary significantly across states because of differences in Value Added Tax (VAT), local cesses and additional levies imposed by state governments. While the central excise duty remains uniform nationwide, state-level taxation policies determine the final retail price. Andhra Pradesh and Telangana reported some of the highest rates due to steep VAT and road development charges, while Kerala maintained high fuel costs through additional social security cess and elevated base VAT rates.