HARYANA FUEL PRICES HIT ALL-TIME HIGH AFTER FOURTH CONSECUTIVE HIKE IN 10 DAYS
Petrol crosses ₹104/litre in Sirsa as crude oil surges past $100/barrel amid Middle East tensions; pump association warns of further ₹3–4 hike ahead — while Blinkit riders take to streets in protest
Chandigarh, May 25, 2026 | Fuel prices in Haryana reached a fresh all-time high on Monday after oil companies announced the fourth consecutive price revision in just ten days. Petrol now costs ₹103 per litre on average across the state, while diesel has climbed to ₹95.66 per litre — both rates effective from 6 AM under the government’s daily dynamic pricing system.
Today’s revision added ₹2.60 per litre to petrol and ₹2.70 per litre to diesel. Over the past ten days, petrol prices in the state have cumulatively risen by ₹7.37 — making it one of the steepest short-term fuel price surges Haryana has seen in recent years.
Sirsa recorded the highest rate in the state at ₹104.43 per litre, followed by Fatehabad at ₹103.73 and Panchkula at ₹103.63. Even Panipat, which had the lowest rate among major cities, saw petrol cross the ₹102 mark at ₹102.20 per litre.
Why Are Prices Rising?
The primary driver is the sharp increase in global crude oil prices. Before the recent flare-up of hostilities between Iran and the United States in the Middle East, crude was trading at around $70 per barrel. It has since surged past $100 per barrel, putting heavy pressure on state-run oil companies that had been absorbing losses. The companies have now passed on the burden to consumers through a series of upward revisions.
India imports approximately 90% of its crude oil requirements from international markets. Retail prices are determined by the base import cost, refining charges, central government excise duty and road cess, dealer commissions, and state VAT — which varies by state and explains why prices differ across cities. By the time fuel reaches the pump, the consumer price can be nearly four times the base crude cost.
More Hikes Expected
Sanjeev Chaudhary, President of the Haryana Petrol Pump Association, warned that the current round of revisions is not yet over. “The central government plans a total increase of ₹10 each on petrol and diesel. We have had four hikes so far — one or two more rounds of ₹3 to ₹4 are likely in the coming days. Consumers should be prepared,” he said.
The previous hikes were on May 15 (₹3/litre), May 19 (average 90 paise/litre), two days ago (petrol 87 paise, diesel 91 paise), and today’s revision of over ₹2.60 per litre.
Gig Workers Protest in Jhajjar
The relentless fuel price rise has sparked visible public anger. Blinkit delivery riders in Jhajjar staged a protest on Monday, demanding higher per-order pay to compensate for rising fuel expenses. Services were disrupted across parts of the city, with several delivery partners refusing to work. Riders alleged that while fuel costs keep climbing, the per-order payout from the platform remains unchanged and incentive payments have been repeatedly cut, squeezing their daily earnings.
Broader Price Ripple Expected
Economists and trade bodies warn that the fuel hike will not stay confined to petrol pumps. Freight costs for trucks and tempo operators are set to rise, which will push up the retail price of vegetables, fruits, and essential goods transported from other states. Farmers will face higher operating costs for tractors and irrigation pumps, raising the cost of producing grain. Bus operators and auto-rickshaw unions may also seek fare revisions, with school bus charges likely to follow — adding to the household burden of ordinary families.
