Petrol, Diesel and LPG Price Hikes 2026: What Changed
Petrol and diesel rose about ₹7 a litre in four hikes in May 2026, and LPG is up ₹89 a cylinder. Latest city prices, why $100 crude matters and what may come.
By Balaji Anbazhagan
· 6 min read
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Fuel is costing Indian households noticeably more than it did at the start of the year. In May 2026 petrol and diesel went up four times in ten days, CNG and cooking gas were raised as well, and all of it traces back to the fact that crude oil has risen above $100 a barrel since the conflict involving Iran disrupted shipping through the Strait of Hormuz. Here are the latest prices, exactly what changed and when, what it costs an average household, and what to watch next.
The short answer
- Petrol in Delhi: about ₹102 a litre. Diesel: about ₹95 a litre. (21 September 2026.)
- The rise: on 15 May Delhi petrol was ₹94.77 and diesel ₹87.67. By 25 May, after four hikes in ten days, petrol was ₹102.12 and diesel ₹95.20, about ₹7.4 a litre more for petrol and ₹7.5 for diesel.
- Domestic LPG (14.2 kg) in Delhi: about ₹942, up ₹89 in a year. It was raised ₹60 on 7 May to ₹913.
- Why: Brent crude has traded around $100–105, and the oil companies were losing money on every litre sold.
- Prices have moved little since late May. Whether they rise again depends on crude.
Fuel prices today in major cities
| City | Petrol (₹/litre) | Diesel (₹/litre) |
|---|---|---|
| Delhi | 101.96 | 95.44 |
| Mumbai | 111.21 | 97.83 |
| Kolkata | 113.51 | 99.82 |
| Chennai | 107.76 | 99.55 |
Prices reported for 21 September 2026. Other cities and states differ because of local taxes (VAT), and prices can move by a few paise a day. Check your city’s rate at the pump or on your oil company’s app.
Other Delhi prices on the same day: CNG ₹86.98 a kg, domestic LPG ₹942 a cylinder and commercial LPG (19 kg) ₹2,747.50.
How prices rose in 2026
| Date | What happened |
|---|---|
| 20 March | Premium petrol and diesel raised by up to ₹2.35 a litre |
| 1 May | Commercial LPG (19 kg) in Delhi raised by ₹993, from ₹2,078.50 to ₹3,071.50 |
| 7 May | Domestic LPG (14.2 kg) raised ₹60 to ₹913 in Delhi |
| 15 May | Petrol and diesel raised ₹3 a litre each. Delhi petrol went from ₹94.77 to ₹97.77 and diesel from ₹87.67 to ₹90.67. CNG up ₹2 a kg. |
| 17 May | CNG in Delhi up ₹1 a kg to ₹80.09 |
| 25 May | Fourth petrol and diesel hike in ten days: petrol up ₹2.61 and diesel up ₹2.71. Delhi petrol ₹102.12, diesel ₹95.20. |
Since 1 April, petrol is up about 7.6% and diesel about 8.9%, with most of the rise in May.
Why fuel got more expensive
- Crude above $100. Brent crude was around $101.71 on 21 September, and one closing report on 24 September put November Brent at $105.62.
- Supply disruption. The conflict involving Iran has left few ships passing through the Strait of Hormuz, and prices swing on every headline about talks or attacks.
- Oil companies’ losses. In early May, oil marketing companies were reported to be losing about ₹18 a litre on petrol and ₹35 a litre on diesel. Petroleum Minister Hardeep Singh Puri has said that prolonged high crude could increase these losses if retail prices are not revised from time to time.
- A weak rupee. India pays for crude in dollars, and the rupee is near ₹95.9 per dollar, which makes every barrel costlier.
What it costs your household
Using Delhi petrol at ₹94.77 before 15 May and ₹101.96 now, a rise of ₹7.19 a litre:
| Petrol you use in a month | Extra cost each month |
|---|---|
| 20 litres (a scooter, or a car used a little) | about ₹144 |
| 40 litres (a daily-use car) | about ₹288 |
| 60 litres (heavy use) | about ₹431 |
For diesel (₹87.67 to ₹95.44, up ₹7.77), 40 litres a month costs about ₹311 more. Cooking gas is up ₹89 a cylinder in a year, so a home using 8 cylinders a year pays about ₹712 more.
The bigger effect is indirect. Diesel moves goods, so vegetables, groceries and delivery costs rise too. One analyst estimate in May was that a full pass-through of oil companies’ losses to pump prices could add about 0.75 percentage points to inflation. Retail inflation was already 4.82% in August, up from 4.45% in July. See how rising prices erode your money with the inflation calculator.
Will prices go up or down from here?
Nobody can say, but three things decide it:
- Crude oil. It eased a little on 25 September on reports that US and Iranian negotiators were exploring a deal to lift blockades on tankers. A deal would help, and a breakdown would hurt.
- The rupee. A weaker rupee raises the cost of every imported barrel.
- Oil company losses. If crude stays above $100, the pressure to raise pump prices again stays.
Higher fuel prices also feed into the RBI’s October interest rate decision and into why markets fell on 24 September.
Ways to keep your fuel bill down
- Keep tyres at the right pressure and do not carry extra weight. Both improve mileage.
- Combine errands into one trip instead of several short ones.
- Compare CNG if you drive a lot in a city that has it. At ₹86.98 a kg in Delhi it is still cheaper per kilometre than petrol for many cars, but check your own car’s mileage on each fuel.
- Track your monthly fuel spend and add it to your budget, since it is now a bigger share of your costs.
Frequently asked questions
What is the petrol price in Delhi today? About ₹102 a litre. It was ₹101.96 on 21 September 2026, after ₹102.12 on 25 May.
Why did petrol and diesel prices go up in 2026? Crude oil rose above $100 a barrel after the conflict involving Iran disrupted shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, and oil marketing companies were losing money at the old prices.
How much did the LPG cylinder price rise? The domestic 14.2 kg cylinder in Delhi is about ₹942, up ₹89 in a year, including a ₹60 rise on 7 May. The commercial 19 kg cylinder rose ₹993 on 1 May, and has since come down to ₹2,747.50.
Will petrol prices come down? Only if crude oil falls and stays lower. Talks between the US and Iran, and the rupee, are the things to watch.
Why is petrol costlier in Kolkata and Mumbai than in Delhi? State taxes (VAT) and local charges differ. The same fuel costs ₹101.96 in Delhi and ₹113.51 in Kolkata.
Sources
- Oneindia, “Fuel price hike 2026: Petrol, diesel, CNG and LPG all up”, 25 May 2026: oneindia.com
- Akashvani News, “Petrol, diesel prices hiked by Rs 3 per litre amid spike in global energy prices”, 15 May 2026: newsonair.gov.in
- The Sunday Guardian, “Fuel prices today, 21 September 2026”: sundayguardianlive.com
- Multibagg, “India fuel price hike raises inflation risk in 2026”, 5 May 2026: multibagg.ai
- Kotak Neo, “Closing Bell Today, 24 September 2026”: kotakneo.com
- Fuel prices by city: goodreturns.in
This article is for general information and education, not financial, tax or investment advice. Rules and rates change; check official sources or consult a qualified professional before acting. See our disclaimer.