The government hiked its windfall tax on petroleum crude to Rs 4,600 a metric ton from Rs 3,300 with effect from March 1, according to a government order released on Thursday.
India also cut the windfall tax on diesel to zero from Rs 1.50 per litre effective March 1, the order showed. The tax on petrol and aviation turbine fuel will continue to be nil.
On February 16, the government raised the windfall tax on petroleum crude to Rs 3,300 a metric ton from Rs 3,200 and hiked the tax on diesel to Rs 1.5 rupees a litre from zero.
India imposed a windfall tax on crude oil producers from July 2022 and extended the levy on exports of gasoline, diesel and aviation fuel, as private refiners wanted to sell fuel overseas to gain from robust refining margins instead of selling locally. The government revises the tax fortnightly.