Nirmala Sitharaman Defends Fuel Price Policy, Says Government Prevented ₹10/Litre Hike Through Excise Duty Relief

Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman stated that the central government's focus over the past 76 days has been to ensure that citizens are not subjected to additional financial burdens amid fluctuating fuel prices and global energy market pressures.
Addressing concerns over rising fuel prices, Sitharaman said the government has provided relief amounting to over ₹1 lakh crore annually through reductions in excise duty. According to her, without these tax reductions, fuel prices could have increased by nearly ₹10 per litre at an earlier stage.
She further clarified that the recent price changes are being driven by Oil Marketing Companies (OMCs), which procure and distribute petroleum products, rather than direct government-imposed hikes.
The statement comes amid continued discussions around inflation, fuel pricing policies, and the impact of global crude oil movements on domestic consumers.