On the eve of Diwali, the government reduced excise duty on petrol and diesel by Rs 5 and Rs 10, respectively. At least 22 states and union territories responded by lowering their VAT rates in various degrees. Prices vary by state, based on the prevalence of local taxes and transit costs.
The drop in excise duty was the largest ever. It reverses a portion of the Rs 13 and Rs 16 per litre rise in fuel and diesel taxes enacted between March and May 2020 in order to avoid passing on to customers the dramatic drop in world oil prices at the start of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The government's decision came at a time when opposition parties and citizens were putting pressure on it to lower fuel prices. It also coincides with Assembly elections in Uttar Pradesh, Punjab, and Goa.
According to the government, the UT of Ladakh has made the largest reductions in diesel prices, resulting in a drop of 19.61 per litre, followed by Karnataka and Puducherry.
List of states that have not reduced VAT
- Delhi
- Maharashtra
- Punjab
- West Bengal
- Tamil Nadu
- Kerala
- Jharkhand
- Chhattisgarh
List of States that have cut VAT on Petrol and Diesel
| City | Petrol Slashed In Rs | Diesel Reduced In Rs |
| Gujarat | 7/litre | 7/litre |
| Uttar Pradesh | 12/litre | 12/litre |
| Uttarakhand | 2/litre | 2/litre |
| Assam | 7/litre | 7/litre |
| Karnataka | 7/litre | 7/litre |
| Goa | 7/litre | 7/litre |
| Manipur | 7/litre | 7/litre |
| Tripura | 7/litre | 7/litre |
| Odisha | 3/litre | 3/litre |
| Bihar | 3.20/litre | 3.90/litre |
| Haryana | 7/litre | 5/litre |
| Chandigarh | 7/litre | 7/litre |
| Madhya Pradesh | 4 percent/litre | 4 percent/litre |
| Himachal Pradesh | 7.5 percent/litre | 8 percent/litre |
| Jammu and Kashmir | 7/litre | 7/litre |
More From GoodReturns

New PAN Card Rules From April 1, 2026: How To Apply For New PAN Card Via Protean, E-Filing Portal?

LPG Gas Cylinder Prices Hiked Again From April 1; 19 KG LPG Gets Costlier By Rs 218; 14.2 KG LPG Unchanged

Gold Rate in India Rises Over Rs 37,000/24K in Three Days; Will Jump in Gold Price Today Continue on 31 March?

Gas Cylinder Booking Rules: 5 Things To Know For Your 14.2Kg, 19KG, 5KG, 10KG LPG Booking In April 2026

Gold Rate Today Continues Rally, 24K Jumps Over Rs 35000 in 2 Days; 22K & 18K Gold, Silver Prices in Delhi

Bank Holiday In April 2026: Banks To Be Closed For 14 Days; Good Friday, Baisakhi To Akshaya Tritiya

Gold Price Today Declines After 3-Day Surge; Check Latest 22K, 24K, 18K Gold & Silver Rates in Delhi on 2April

Gold Price Today, April 3: 22K, 24K Rates Jump Across Tanishq, Malabar, Kalyan & Joyalukkas & IBJA

5 New Shares On One Soon: Anil Agarwal's Vedanta Demerger To Take Place in April, Says Report

Fresh Drop in Gold Rate Today; Silver Stable: Latest 22K, 24K, 18K Gold & Silver Prices in Delhi on 30 March

Govt Approves PDS Kerosene Distribution in 21 States for 60 Days, Sets 5,000 L Storage Limit Amid LPG Crisis



Click it and Unblock the Notifications