Fuel on Fire: Indian states make a killing on taxes as citizens suffer

Only a handful of states reduced sales tax or VAT on petrol as retail fuel prices kept rising across India

Even as ordinary people feel the heat over rising fuel prices, an analysis of central and state finances by Business Standard shows that most Indian states are making a killing with fuel prices touching an all-time highs in India. The Modi government has lobbed the ball in the court of various states to control fuel prices by slashing their respective sales tax or value-added tax (VAT) on petrol and diesel.  While certain states have reasoned that any tinkering in this department would hurt their finances, a closer look at their accounts show that despite the windfall from fuel tax collections,