Here is Historic Fuel Prices in India right from 2003 to 2022 including Price Differential in Petrol and Diesel Fuel in Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai, Kolkata
Petrol Vs Diesel Fuel Price Gap
Fuel Prices in 2021 and in May 2022 reached once again at its lifetime highs, where Petrol Prices in most of the cities touched in zone of Rs 110 to 120 oer Litre, and that of Diesel by Rs 100 to 110 per Litre
Then came a significant announcement from Central Government by slasing Excise duty on Petrol and Diesel - marking a major step to address in inflationary aspect.
Below are what the Slabs of Excise Duty in last 8 yrs
| Month, Year | Excise Duty on Petrol | Excise Duty on Diesel |
| Nov-14 | Rs 9.2 per Litre | Rs 3.46 per Litre |
| Dec-17 | Rs 21.48 per Litre | Rs 17.33 per Litre |
| Jun-20 | Rs 32.98 per Litre | Rs 31.83 per Litre |
| Nov-21 | Rs 27.98 per Litre | Rs 21.8 per Litre |
| May-22 | Rs 19.98 per Litre | Rs 15.8 per Litre |
Also, for comparison are VAT Duty Rates (as applied by State Government- Delhi for instance)
| Month, Year | VAT on Petrol on Basic Price | VAT on Diesel on Basic Price |
| Nov-14 | 20% | 12.50% |
| Dec-17 | 27% | 16.75% + 25 p Cess |
| Jun-20 | 27% | 16.75% + 25 p Cess |
| Nov-21 | 19.40% | 16.75% + 25 p Cess |
| May-22 | 19.40% | 16.75% + 25 p Cess |
VAT Rates are state specific, and can significantly vary in other states.
Fuel Price Gap in Petrol & Diesel
See the Price Gap in Petrol and Diesel in 4 Metro Cities as was in July 2016
| Petrol Price / Litre^ | Diesel Price / Litre^ | Price Gap | |
| New Delhi | Rs 62.51 | Rs 54.28 | Rs 8.23 / Litre |
| Mumbai | Rs 67.11 | Rs 59.6 | Rs 7.51 / Litre |
| Chennai | Rs 62 | Rs 55.82 | Rs 6.18 / Litre |
| Kolkata | Rs 66.03 | Rs 56.48 | Rs 9.55 / Litre |
The Price Gap of Rs 6.18 / Litre in Petrol and Diesel in Chennai.
Look at the Price Difference in May 2022 after recent Excise Duty Cut
| Petrol Price / Litre^ | Diesel Price / Litre^ | Price Gap | |
| New Delhi | Rs 96.72 | Rs 89.62 | Rs 7.1 / Litre |
| Mumbai | Rs 111.35 | Rs 97.28 | Rs 14.07 / Litre |
| Chennai | Rs 102.63 | Rs 94.24 | Rs 8.39 / Litre |
| Kolkata | Rs 106.03 | Rs 92.76 | Rs 13.27 / Litre |
With the fact that Diesel Cars already have
» Price Difference, Higher Road Tax in most of the cities - On Road Price Difference is on a higher side, which will also lead to Higher Finance Interest Cost
» Relative Higher Service Maintenance Cost
» Relative Higher Insurance Premium in Later Years
This new reduced price gap would further dampen in sale of Diesel Cars and even valuation of Old Diesel Car Prices.
If you are Planning to Buy a New Car and Confused in between Petrol / Diesel Choice one
Refer this Comparison on - Diesel Cars Vs Petrol Cars
Historic Fuel Price Difference in India from 2003 to 2022 - Last 20 Years
The Historic Price Difference is on a higher note as against Petrol Cars and has once reached to Rs 24.69 / Litre in April 2012 and see the irony where in June'2020 - Diesel costed higher than Petrol. However that anomaly was soon corrected and now Price gap in between Petrol and Diesel Fuel is now Rs 10 / Litre.
Know Prices of Petrol and Diesel in India (Capital - Delhi) in last 20 Years, where from levels of Rs 33.49 per Litre Petrol in April 2003, it rose to historic level highs of Rs 110 per Litre in November 2021
Anyway - thanks that State Government and Central Government took some action and slashed VAT rates and Excise Duty Rates in last 2 Months which led to some reduction in Fuel Prices
| Month Year | Petrol / Litre | Diesel / Litre | Fuel Price Difference / Litre |
| April-03 | Rs 33.49 | Rs 22.12 | Rs 11.37 |
| June-04 | Rs 35.71 | Rs 22.74 | Rs 12.97 |
| April-05 | Rs 37.99 | Rs 28.22 | Rs 9.77 |
| Apr-06 | Rs 43.5 | Rs 30.45 | Rs 13.05 |
| Apr-07 | Rs 43 | Rs 30.25 | Rs 12.75 |
| Apr-08 | Rs 45.5 | Rs 31.76 | Rs 13.74 |
| Apr-09 | Rs 44.7 | Rs 30.86 | Rs 13.84 |
| Apr-10 | Rs 48 | Rs 38.1 | Rs 9.9 |
| Apr-11 | Rs 58.5 | Rs 37.75 | Rs 20.75 |
| Apr-12 | Rs 65.6 | Rs 40.91 | Rs 24.69 |
| Apr-13 | Rs 66.09 | Rs 48.63 | Rs 17.46 |
| Apr-14 | Rs 72.26 | Rs 55.48 | Rs 16.78 |
| Apr-15 | Rs 60.49 | Rs 49.71 | Rs 10.78 |
| Apr-16 | Rs 59.68 | Rs 48.33 | Rs 11.35 |
| Jul-16 | Rs 62.51 | Rs 54.28 | Rs 8.23 |
| July-17 | Rs 63.09 | Rs 53.33 | Rs 9.76 |
| July-18 | Rs 75.55 | Rs 67.38 | Rs 8.17 |
| July-19 | Rs 72.96 | Rs 66.69 | Rs 6.27 |
| June-20 | Rs 79.76 | Rs 79.88 | Diesel Fuel for First Time Exceed price of Petrol |
| July-21 | Rs 99.86 | Rs 89.36 | Rs 10.5 / Litre |
| April-22 | Rs 105.41 | Rs 96.67 | Rs 8.74 / Litre |
| May-22 | Rs 96.72 | Rs 89.62 | Rs 7.1 / Litre |
It was in November 2021 & then followed in around 20th may 2022 - where Fuel Prices reached historic highs. In Delhi a Litre of Petrol then costed in Rs 110 / Litre, while in Mumbai, Sri Ganganagar it was close to Rs 120 / Litre. Diesel prices too jumped to over Rs 100 / Litre in most of the States - that was when VAT and Excise duty cut was considered to give relief to Common Men.
Now on 21st May - Excise Duty was slashed by Rs 8 per Litre on Petrol and by Rs 6 per Litre on Diesel
However, Irony is that still Indian User is paying high taxes even after Tax Cut
| Fuel | Tax Paid for Obtaining 1 Litre Fuel in Delhi |
| Petrol | Rs 35.57 per Litre (36.7%) |
| Diesel | Rs 28.87 per Litre (32.2%) |
Estimated Tax as paid to Central Government and State Government for 1 Litre of Requiisite Fuel in May 2022
to tune of Rs 35 Per Litre (including Excise and State VAT) for obtaining 1 Litre of Petrol and Diesel in New Delhi. Rather this was actual Price of Petrol 20 yrs back - which is now only paid as Taxes to Government.
