Last Updated on March 27, 2026 4:26 pm by INDIAN AWAAZ
Staff Reporter / New Delhi
Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Friday assured that the government is taking steps to prevent any increase in the prices of petrol, diesel, and Aviation Turbine Fuel (ATF). Addressing the media, she said that in view of the ongoing West Asia conflict, the Prime Minister convened a meeting where it was decided to maintain adequate fuel supplies and ensure that global developments do not lead to price hikes domestically.
She said the government has slashed excise duty on petrol and diesel and decided to give support to Oil Marketing Companies so that they can import the material and the common people do not have to face any hike.
The Minister said that another decision was taken by the Prime Minister that those refineries that get the material from outside, refine it in India and send it as export will now have to face a higher duty. She said that the decision has been taken so that these materials are available for the domestic market and not sent outside. Calling the rumours of lockdown as baseless, Ms Sitharaman reassured people that there shall not be any lockdown that was previously implemented during Covid pandemic. She said that such remarks coming from those in political domains are worrisome.