The Himachal Pradesh Assembly on Monday passed the Himachal Pradesh Value Added Tax (Amendment) Bill, 2026, paving the way for the government to levy an "orphan and widow cess" on petrol and high-speed diesel. The move will allow the state government to increase fuel prices by up to Rs 5 per litre, although the final amount imposed will be decided separately.
Petrol, Diesel Rates To Increase By Rs 5 in Himachal Pradesh
Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu said the law only fixes the upper limit of the cess and does not mean the full amount will be charged immediately. As quoted by ANI, Sukhu said, "The maximum limit for this cess is Rs 5; whether we impose 10 paise or Rs 2 is at our discretion."

This means the government has kept room to decide the actual cess rate depending on its policy choice and revenue needs.
The government has said the new levy will be collected at the first sale stage, which means it will be charged when an oil marketing company first sells petrol or diesel to a dealer. In simple terms, the cess will not be applied every time the fuel changes hands in the supply chain.
According to the proposal, the money raised through this cess will be deposited directly into an orphan and widow welfare fund, from which financial support will be provided to beneficiaries in need.
If the cess is imposed at the higher end of the permitted range, petrol prices in Himachal Pradesh could move close to Rs 100 per litre.
Petrol Prices Today on 24 March 2026 in Himachal Pradesh: Check City-wise Rates
According to GoodReturns data for 24 March 2026, the petrol price in Shimla stood at Rs 94.98 per litre, compared with Rs 95.05 a day earlier. City-wise petrol prices in Himachal Pradesh were as follows:
Bilaspur Petrol Rate Today: Rs 94.12, no change
Chamba : Rs 95.27, up by Rs 0.09
Hamirpur: Rs 93.79, down by Rs 0.18
Kangra: Rs 94.28, up by Rs 0.25
Kinnaur: Rs 95.20, up by Rs 0.16
Kullu: Rs 95.25, up by Rs 0.11
Lahul & Spiti: Rs 94.61, no change
Mandi: Rs 94.98, up by Rs 0.47
Shimla: Rs 94.98, down by Rs 0.07
Sirmaur: Rs 94.74, up by Rs 0.18
Solan: Rs 94.65, up by Rs 0.12
Una: Rs 93.53, up by Rs 0.22
Diesel Prices Today on 24 March 2026 in Himachal Pradesh: Check Rates City-wise
According to GoodReturns data for 24 March 2026, the diesel price in Shimla was Rs 86.95 per litre, compared with Rs 87.13 the previous day. City-wise diesel prices in Himachal Pradesh were:
Bilaspur Diesel Rate Today: Rs 86.21, no change
Chamba: Rs 87.36, up by Rs 0.27
Hamirpur: Rs 85.89, down by Rs 0.15
Kangra: Rs 86.34, up by Rs 0.22
Kinnaur: Rs 87.34, up by Rs 0.09
Kullu: Rs 87.12, down by Rs 0.19
Lahul & Spiti: Rs 86.98, no change
Mandi: Rs 86.95, up by Rs 0.37
Shimla: Rs 86.95, down by Rs 0.18
Sirmaur: Rs 86.78, up by Rs 0.14
Solan: Rs 86.70, up by Rs 0.15
Una: Rs 85.63, up by Rs 0.21
These prices are based on available data. Actual retail fuel rates may vary slightly depending on the petrol pump, local taxes and timing of revision, so consumers should check with their nearest fuel station for the latest prices.
Disclaimer: The views and recommendations expressed are solely those of the individual analysts or entities and do not reflect the views of Goodreturns.in or Greynium Information Technologies Private Limited (together referred as "we"). We do not guarantee, endorse or take responsibility for the accuracy, completeness or reliability of any content, nor do we provide any investment advice or solicit the purchase or sale of securities. All information is provided for informational and educational purposes only and should be independently verified from licensed financial advisors before making any investment decisions.
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