Fuel prices are rising in India due to factors such as increased global crude oil prices, higher taxes and levies imposed by the government, and the depreciation of the Indian Rupee against the US Dollar.
Fuel prices in India have been on the rise due to a combination of various factors. To understand the intricacies of this phenomenon, it is crucial to delve into the contributing factors. One of the primary reasons for the surge in fuel prices is the increased global crude oil prices. As India heavily depends on oil imports, any fluctuations in the global market directly impact the domestic fuel prices.
As demand for crude oil rises globally, prices tend to escalate. Moreover, geopolitical tensions, supply disruptions, and changes in production quotas among oil-producing nations can significantly influence the cost of crude oil. These factors, coupled with the intricate interplay of supply and demand dynamics, have led to the upsurge in fuel prices in India.
Apart from global oil prices, domestic factors also play a significant role in the escalating fuel prices. Higher taxes and levies imposed by the government contribute to the increased burden on consumers. The government imposes various taxes, including excise duty and value-added tax (VAT), which are directly passed on to the consumers. These taxes serve as a crucial source of revenue for the government but add to the rising fuel costs for the general public.
Additionally, the depreciation of the Indian Rupee against the US Dollar has contributed to the surge in fuel prices. Since oil is traded internationally in US Dollars, a weaker domestic currency implies that it takes more Rupees to purchase the same quantity of oil. This currency depreciation adds to the cost of imports, further driving up fuel prices.
Interestingly, a renowned economist, John Maynard Keynes, once said, “The drastic decline in oil prices during recent years may have been a fleeting and artificial reduction. The costs of producing oil have a general tendency to rise like the costs of other commodities.”
To provide a broader perspective, here are some fascinating facts related to fuel prices:
- India is heavily dependent on imports to fulfill its energy requirements, with more than 80% of its crude oil demand being met through imports.
- Fuel prices in India follow a dynamic pricing mechanism, where they are revised on a daily basis based on international crude oil prices.
- The state and central taxes account for a significant portion of the retail price of fuels, with taxes often exceeding the base price of the fuel itself.
- Fuel prices have a cascading effect on various sectors, such as transportation, logistics, and manufacturing, impacting the overall cost of living and inflation rates.
- Public sentiment regarding fuel prices often creates political pressure, leading to debates and discussions on measures to control or stabilize prices.
Table:
| Contributing Factors | Impact on Fuel Prices in India |
|---|---|
| Increased global crude | Directly affects import costs and influences domestic fuel prices. |
| oil prices | |
| Higher taxes and levies | Adds to the burden on consumers as increased taxes are passed onto them. |
| Depreciation of the | Weakens purchasing power and contributes to higher import costs, impacting fuel prices. |
| Indian Rupee |
In conclusion, the rising fuel prices in India can be attributed to increased global crude oil prices, higher taxes and levies imposed by the government, and the depreciation of the Indian Rupee against the US Dollar. These factors collectively affect the cost of imports, production, and distribution, ultimately impacting the retail prices of fuel. As John Maynard Keynes suggested, the costs of oil production generally tend to rise, making it essential to consider various contributing factors to understand the complexities behind fuel price fluctuations.
Video response to “Why fuel prices are rising in India?”
The YouTube video by Dhruv Rathee explores the concept of oil bonds and their impact on the rising fuel prices in India. Oil bonds are essentially loans issued by the government to raise money, and they have been controversial, especially during the Congress’ tenure when petrol and diesel prices were increasing rapidly. The video highlights that while the government blames oil bond commitments for high taxes on fuels, the increase in excise duty over the years cannot be ignored. It also discusses the revenue generated by the government through excise duty and questions why petrol prices continue to rise despite significant tax collection.
Other viewpoints exist
Despite getting cheap oil from Russia, high taxes, refining costs, exchange rate, distribution and transportation costs, and government subsidies contribute to high petrol prices in India. And it’s not just India that is facing high petrol prices. America’s price of gasoline is calculated in the same way as India.
In addition, people are interested
People also ask, Why has oil prices increased in India?
Higher Imported Inflation: The production cut would raise crude oil prices, increasing India’s import bill and worsening the current account deficit by around 0.4% of GDP. This will also affect the retail prices of petrol and diesel, which are already at record highs across the country.
Also question is, Who decides fuel prices in India?
Answer: Oil Marketing Companies (OMCs) in India such as Bharat Petroleum Corporation Ltd, Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Ltd, etc, revise the price of petrol on a daily basis. This revision in the price is overseen by the PPAC (Petroleum Planning and Analysis Cell), which falls under the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas.
Beside this, Why petrol price is high in India than Pakistan?
Response to this: Notably, the differences in prices across countries are due to the various taxes and subsidies for gasoline. All countries have access to the same petroleum prices of international markets but then decide to impose different taxes.
Also, How gas prices are determined in India? (ONGC) and Oil India Ltd (OIL) before 1999, and its price is determined by the Petroleum Planning & Analysis Cell (PPAC), of the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas. NAPM gas is not subsidised and comes from onshore and offshore domestic gas fields as well as from overseas, as liquefied natural gas (LNG).
Why are fuel prices so high in India?
Answer: Prices of essential fuels like petrol and diesel are again rising in the country. The rates have already touched a 2-year high and could increase further as global crude oil rates rise. However, there is another key factor behind high fuel prices in the country.
Why did India stop revising petrol and diesel prices? Answer will be: Domestic prices of petrol and diesel are revised by oil marketing companies based on changes in the international prices of petrol and diesel. However, as global crude prices crashed and India went into lockdown, Indian OMCs stopped revising the prices of petrol and diesel for over 80 days. “Globally crude oil prices have been moving up.
Beside this, Will crude oil price increase in India?
Answer: Meanwhile, the average price of Indian basket of crude oil has risen to $84.67/bbl in Jan’22 from $63.4/bbl in Apr’21, 33.5% increase. According to SBI’s calculations, every $10/ bbl increase in Brent crude price will lead to an increase in inflation by 20-25 bps. "Interestingly, petrol and diesel prices have not changed since Nov’21.
Why have fuel prices risen 26 percent since March 22?
Answer: Fuel prices have risen 26 percent since March 22 as oil marketing companies began to pass the effect of a surge in global crude oil prices — after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine — onto its consumers through back-to-back price hikes.
Keeping this in view, Why are crude oil prices rising in India?
The response is: There are two possible explanations — Increase in global crude oil prices and higher fuel taxes levied by the central and state governments. Just over two weeks ago, fuel prices started rising in India. And five days ago, Brent crude oil price rose to its highest level since March. This happened after an OPEC+ output cut deal.
Beside this, How has fuel rate changed in India?
The reply will be: Today, the rates are increased by 80-85 paise and 75 paise respectively for petrol and diesel. Overall, petrol price has gone up by Rs 4.80-Rs 4.85 per litre and diesel rate has been hiked by Rs 4.85 a litre. Fuel rates have been increased across the country but prices vary from state to state depending upon the incidence of local taxation.
Why have fuel prices risen 26 percent since March 22? As an answer to this: Fuel prices have risen 26 percent since March 22 as oil marketing companies began to pass the effect of a surge in global crude oil prices — after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine — onto its consumers through back-to-back price hikes.
In this regard, How do rising diesel and petrol prices affect the economy?
The reply will be: This may reflect in the prices of the essential commodities. A direct impact of rising diesel and petrol prices is the increase in what you spend on fuel every month for your daily commute. Over two-thirds of the price you pay for fuel includes tax and other levies.