New Delhi

The Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas on Friday reaffirmed the government’s commitment to keeping petrol and diesel prices stable, even as global crude oil prices continue to rise.

Speaking at a joint inter-ministerial briefing, Sujata Sharma, Joint Secretary (Marketing & Oil Refinery), said the government has chosen to absorb the impact of rising crude prices rather than pass the burden on to consumers.

“While fuel prices have increased in many countries around the world, petrol and diesel prices in India have not been raised,” Sharma said, adding that excise duty reductions have helped maintain price stability.

She noted that despite the price of crude oil in the Indian basket rising from around USD 70 per barrel to over USD 100, there has been no shortage of petroleum products in the country.

Reassuring citizens, Sharma said India has adequate supplies of crude oil, petrol, diesel, LPG, LNG, and PNG. However, she cautioned that rumours of shortages have triggered unnecessary panic buying and long queues at petrol pumps in some areas.

Highlighting long-term infrastructure expansion, Sharma said more than 10,000 new piped natural gas (PNG) connections are being added daily through coordinated efforts between the Centre and states.

She credited ministries such as the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways and the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade, along with state governments, for streamlining approvals and improving ease of doing business, which has accelerated the expansion of the PNG network.

According to Sharma, since April 2022, petrol and diesel prices have either decreased or remained stable. Even when excise duty was increased by ₹2 in April 2025, the additional cost was not passed on to consumers.

To curb panic buying, hoarding, and black marketing, authorities have stepped up enforcement measures across the country. Sharma said around 3,000 raids have been conducted, leading to the seizure of approximately 1,500 LPG cylinders. So far, about 710 FIRs have been registered, and nearly 350 distributors have been issued show-cause notices.

State governments and oil marketing companies have played a key role in these efforts, carrying out inspections and monitoring supply chains to prevent irregularities.

Reiterating the government’s message, Sharma urged citizens not to believe in rumours and to avoid unnecessary purchases.

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“There is sufficient availability of all fuel products. There is no need for panic or crowding at petrol pumps,” she said.