Petrol, diesel prices slashed by Rs 2 per litre as Modi govt. cuts excise duty

New Delhi: Bowing to public pressure, the government on Tuesday cut excise duty on petrol and diesel by Rs 2 per litre to moderate the relentless rise in fuel prices witnessed for the last three months.

"Govt of India has reduced Basic Excise Duty rate on petrol and diesel [both branded and unbranded] by Rs 2 per litre w.e.f. 4th October,2017 (sic)," the finance ministry said in a tweet.Prices of petrol and diesel will be reduced by the amount of duty cut with effect from Wednesday.

Petrol earlier cost Rs 70.88 per litre in Delhi while a litre of diesel is priced at Rs 59.14, the highest ever.On petrol, the government levies excise duties totalling Rs 21.48 per litre while that on diesel is Rs 17.33 per litre.

The government, which had raised duties three years back to take away gains arising from plummeting global oil prices, has been criticised for not cutting excise duty despite a sustained rise in fuel prices since early July.

Petrol price has jumped by Rs 7.8 per litre since 4 July, while diesel rates have touched an all-time high after rates went up by Rs 5.7."This (excise duty cut) has been done to cushion the impact of rising international prices of crude petroleum oil and petrol and diesel on their retail sale prices," it said in another tweet.

The duty reduction will lead to a Rs 13,000 crore loss of revenue to the government during the remaining period of the fiscal.

The government-which had between November 2014 and January 2016, raised excise duty on petrol and diesel on nine occasions to take away gains arising from plummeting global oil prices-has been criticised for not cutting excise duty despite a sustained rise in fuel prices since early July.