Ethanol-Free Petrol Crosses Rs 160/Liter, Jet Fuel More Than Doubles: Regular Pump Price Hasn't Moved
From April 1, 2026, filling up on XP100, Indian Oil's 100-octane premium petrol, will cost Rs 160 per litre in Delhi, up from Rs 149. That is an Rs 11 jump in a single revision. Indian Oil has also raised the price of Xtra Green, its premium diesel offering, from Rs 91.49 to Rs 92.99 per litre. Aviation turbine fuel has seen an even sharper move, more than doubling to cross Rs 2 lakh per kilolitre. These are the fuels that have absorbed the pressure from the ongoing West Asia conflict and the crude oil spike that followed.
What has not changed is the price you pay for regular petrol and diesel. In Delhi, regular petrol continues at Rs 94.72 per litre and diesel at Rs 87.62. Mumbai's regular petrol stays at Rs 103.44, and diesel at Rs 89.97. The oil marketing companies are absorbing the margin pressure on mainstream fuels, at least for now.
XP100 is a 100-octane fuel designed for high compression engines. It's sold by Indian Oil as XP100, HPCL as Power 100 and BPCL as Speed 100. Premium petrol in general, across all variants, accounts for roughly two to four percent of total daily petrol sales.
So the direct impact of this hike falls on a narrow pool of buyers, primarily those running luxury sedans, performance SUVs, and track-focused motorcycles that specifically benefit from or require high-octane fuel. For the average commuter on regular petrol, this revision changes nothing at the pump today.
However, the direction it signals matters. This is the second round of premium fuel hikes since the conflict escalated in late February. In mid-March, oil marketing companies raised XP95 and other mid-tier premium variants by up to Rs 2.35 per litre. Bulk diesel for industrial users also saw a sharp revision, with Delhi bulk diesel prices moving from Rs 87.67 to Rs 109.59 per litre. That bulk diesel increase feeds directly into logistics, freight, and manufacturing costs, which eventually filter through to consumer goods pricing.
The government has moved to partially offset the global crude shock through duty cuts. The special additional excise duty on petrol was slashed from Rs 13 per litre to Rs 3, and on diesel reduced to zero from Rs 10. These cuts have been the primary reason why regular petrol and diesel pump prices have remained stable despite Brent crude crossing $112 per barrel in late March. Without this intervention, the numbers at the pump would look very different already.
Commercial LPG has not been protected in the same way. Prices for commercial cylinders were raised by Rs 195.50, with Delhi rates in some cities crossing Rs 203 per cylinder increase. Domestic LPG prices had already risen by Rs 60 in early March, pushing the standard 14.2 kg cylinder price in Delhi from Rs 853 to Rs 913.
Globally, petrol prices have surged in at least 95 countries since the conflict began. Some markets have seen spikes of nearly 70 percent. The United States has gone from $2.94 per gallon in February to $3.58, with several states crossing $4. Countries including Pakistan have responded with four-day work weeks and school closures to manage energy consumption.
The government's position remains that regular petrol and diesel prices will not be hiked for now. The duty cuts have created a buffer. Whether that buffer holds depends on how long crude stays elevated and whether the Strait of Hormuz situation stabilises. US President Donald Trump has indicated that military action against Iran could pause within three weeks, but until that materialises, the crude price trajectory remains unpredictable.