New Delhi

Pawan Khera has criticised the Centre’s recent decision to reduce excise duty on petrol and diesel, arguing that the move does not translate into real savings for consumers.

In a post on X, Khera said that despite headlines suggesting a price cut, there has been no actual reduction in fuel prices at the retail level. He pointed out that the change applies only to the “special additional excise duty,” which is paid by oil marketing companies rather than directly affecting consumers.

If you saw the headlines about petrol and diesel prices ‘coming down’ and thought the government had offered relief to your pocket – you’d be mistaken.

As of now, prices remain the same for dealers and for consumers.

What has actually been reduced is the ‘special additional… https://t.co/iZ95MEjOC5

— Pawan Khera 🇮🇳 (@Pawankhera) March 27, 2026

According to him, the terminology itself indicates that the levy was unnecessary, and its partial rollback does little to ease the burden on the public. He added that oil marketing companies have already been absorbing losses due to rising global crude prices amid tensions in West Asia, and the government’s step merely shifts a small portion of that burden.

Khera argued that the decision is more about optics than tangible relief, urging the government to focus on measures that directly benefit consumers instead of “headline management.”

The remarks come after the Centre reduced excise duty on petrol to Rs 3 per litre and eliminated it entirely on diesel, as per a notification issued under the Central Excise Act, 1944. Additionally, a windfall tax of Rs 21.5 per litre has been imposed on diesel exports.

The move follows heightened geopolitical tensions involving the United States, Israel, and Iran, which have disrupted supply routes such as the Strait of Hormuz—a crucial corridor for global crude shipments.

While the duty cut is expected to provide some relief to oil marketing companies facing pressure from rising crude prices, retail fuel rates have remained unchanged so far.

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Meanwhile, the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas has assured that fuel supplies across the country remain stable. It stated that petrol pumps are operating normally with adequate stock and urged the public not to engage in panic buying. Officials also noted that refineries are running at optimal capacity and that domestic LPG production has been increased to meet demand.