Petrol and diesel prices across major Indian cities remained largely unchanged on Friday, March 6, even as global crude oil markets witnessed volatility amid escalating tensions between the United States and Iran. Despite fluctuations in international oil benchmarks, domestic retail fuel prices have remained stable in recent days, according to the latest notifications issued by state-run oil marketing companies. The stability comes at a time when global energy markets are closely monitoring geopolitical developments that could influence crude supply and pricing trends worldwide.
Among India’s major cities, fuel prices continue to vary significantly due to differences in state-level taxes and local levies. Cities such as Hyderabad and Patna remain among the costliest markets for petrol, while comparatively lower prices are recorded in places like Delhi and Lucknow. These variations are largely driven by state government value-added tax (VAT) rates and other regional charges, which significantly influence the final retail cost of fuel for consumers.
In the national capital, Delhi, petrol is currently priced at ₹94.77 per litre while diesel costs ₹87.67 per litre. In Mumbai, petrol is selling at ₹103.54 per litre and diesel at ₹90.03. Meanwhile, motorists in Kolkata are paying ₹105.45 per litre for petrol and ₹92.02 for diesel, while in Chennai petrol costs ₹100.84 per litre and diesel ₹92.39 per litre. These figures highlight the continued variation in fuel prices across metropolitan regions.
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Other major cities also reflect similar disparities. Petrol prices in Hyderabad remain among the highest at ₹107.46 per litre, while diesel is priced at ₹95.70 per litre. In Bengaluru, petrol is retailing at ₹102.96 per litre and diesel at ₹90.99. Meanwhile, residents in Pune are paying ₹104.36 per litre for petrol and ₹90.88 for diesel, and in Jaipur, petrol costs ₹104.69 while diesel stands at ₹90.18 per litre.
Fuel prices in India are heavily influenced by international crude oil benchmarks. The global oil market has seen renewed volatility this week, with Brent crude oil hovering near $85 per barrel after touching its highest level since mid-2023. Meanwhile, West Texas Intermediate crude oil has surged nearly 18 per cent during the week, though prices eased slightly toward $79 per barrel following indications from US President Donald Trump that potential measures could be taken to reduce pressure on global oil prices.
Several factors determine petrol and diesel prices in India. The most significant is the cost of crude oil in international markets, as the country imports a large share of its energy requirements. Additionally, the rupee–dollar exchange rate plays a key role because crude purchases are largely conducted in US dollars. Taxes also account for a major portion of the retail price, with both the central government’s excise duty and state-level VAT contributing significantly to the final amount consumers pay at fuel stations.
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