LPG Cylinder Price Hiked by ₹50, Common Man Hit Hard by Inflation

New Delhi: The common man has once again been hit hard by inflation. Union Petroleum Minister Hardeep Singh Puri announced on Monday that oil marketing companies have increased the price of domestic cooking gas (LPG) cylinders by ₹50 per unit. This hike will apply to both general consumers and beneficiaries of the Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana (PMUY).

Now, the price of a 14.2 kg LPG cylinder for regular users has gone up from ₹803 to ₹853, while PMUY beneficiaries will now have to pay ₹553 instead of ₹503. Union Petroleum and Natural Gas Minister Hardeep Singh Puri said, “This increase of Rs 50 per cylinder will be for Ujjwala beneficiaries as well as non-Ujjwala beneficiaries. It will be reviewed after every 15-30 days. In case of petrol and diesel, if this trend continues, then there is a possibility of price revision …”

Hardeep Singh Puri clarified that this is a temporary move and is reviewed every 2–3 weeks. He explained that the hike in excise duty is not meant to burden the public, but rather to compensate oil companies for losses of around ₹43,000 crore incurred in the LPG segment.

According to a notification issued by the Revenue Department, the central government has increased the excise duty on petrol and diesel by ₹2 per liter, which will come into effect from April 8, 2025. After the hike, the excise duty on petrol will be ₹13 per liter, and on diesel ₹10 per liter. However, the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas clarified in a statement that this increase will not affect the retail prices of petrol and diesel.

The government has taken this step under Section 5A of the Central Excise Act, 1944, and Section 147 of the Finance Act, 2002, in the interest of the public. This decision comes at a time when global markets are facing turbulence following a massive hike in import tariffs by the United States. Still, Oil Marketing Companies (OMCs) have confirmed that there will be no change in the retail prices of petrol and diesel.

This price hike comes at a time when inflation is already putting pressure on household budgets. It remains to be seen whether the government will introduce any relief measures to ease the burden on the public.