Fourth Hike in Two Weeks: Petrol and Diesel Prices Up Rs 7.5 a Litre Across India

Petrol and diesel prices were raised yet again on Monday, for the fourth time in less than two weeks , as state owned oil marketing companies continued to pass on surging international crude costs to consumers, pushing cumulative increases to nearly Rs 7.5 per litre since revision resumed on May 15 .

The pinch is felt particularly hard in Telangana and Andhra Pradesh , where state taxes and levies already push retail fuel prices well above the national average. In Hyderabad , petrol now costs Rs 115.62 per litre and diesel Rs 103.76, among the steepest rates in the country. The previous revision on May 23 had taken petrol to Rs 112.81 and diesel to Rs 100.94, meaning Monday's hike added about Rs 2.81 on petrol and Rs 2.82 on diesel in the city alone.

Across Andhra Pradesh, the situation is no less severe. Diesel in Amaravati now stands at Rs 105.54 per litre, with Visakhapatnam at Rs 104.11 , while Sri Sathya Sai district records the highest at Rs 106.11. On the petrol side, Amaravati is at Rs 115.02, Visakhapatnam at Rs 113.64, and Nellore the priciest at Rs 115.53 per litre. State taxes and dealer commissions contribute nearly 32 to 36 percent of the retail fuel price in the state.

Nationally, petrol in Delhi now costs Rs 102.12 per litre and diesel Rs 95.20, following Monday's increases of Rs 2.61 and Rs 2.71 per litre respectively. In Mumbai , petrol has climbed to Rs 111.21 per litre and diesel to Rs 97.83, while Kolkata saw rates rise to Rs 113.51 and Rs 99.82. Chennai now sells petrol at Rs 107.77 and diesel at Rs 99.55. The contrast is stark, with Hyderabad costlier than Mumbai, Chennai, and Delhi on both fuels, reflecting Telangana's higher VAT structure on petroleum products.

The trigger for this rapid escalation is geopolitical tension . India, the world's third largest oil importer, sources roughly 90 percent of its crude from overseas , with about half transiting the Strait of Hormuz , a key maritime corridor disrupted by conflict involving the United States, Israel, and Iran. Brent crude prices surged sharply following the hostilities, marking the steepest fuel price run up since the freeze that began in April 2022.

The currency factor has worsened the situation. A weaker Indian rupee against the US dollar means every rise in global crude prices translates into higher domestic costs, adding pressure on oil marketing companies.

New Delhi had been among the last major economies to begin passing on higher crude costs to consumers. The revision cycle had been on pause for several months, with the government holding rates steady ahead of state assembly elections. With polling now concluded, the accumulated pressure of elevated global crude prices and a weaker rupee has now been passed on to consumers. Mounting losses at Indian Oil Corporation, BPCL, and HPCL , which together control about 90 percent of India's fuel retail market , made continued price absorption unsustainable.

The impact is being felt most acutely in Hyderabad . Residents are facing what is being called a triple fuel shock , with petrol and diesel at record highs compounded by CNG prices that were raised twice within 48 hours, taking rates to Rs 79.57 per kg. Households are estimated to be spending Rs 300 to Rs 800 more per month depending on usage and commuting distance.

Economists warn that rising fuel prices will directly fuel inflationary pressure in the coming weeks. Since diesel is central to transport and agriculture, higher costs are expected to increase prices of essential goods across supply chains. Wholesale inflation had already risen to 8.3 percent in April 2026.

India's fuel demand growth is expected to slow in the second half of 2026 as high crude prices, a weak rupee, and policy-led conservation measures weigh on consumption. For consumers in Hyderabad, Amaravati, and Visakhapatnam , further price revisions remain possible, with relief dependent on developments in West Asia , a reopening of the Strait of Hormuz, and recovery in the rupee, none of which appear imminent.