With record excise duty hike on fuel, Modi govt may gain Rs 1.6 trn in FY21

Together with Rs 39,000 crore in annual revenues gained from the March 14 excise duty hike of Rs 3 per litre each on petrol and diesel, the government stands to gain as much as Rs 2 trillion

The government will gain close to Rs 1.6 trillion in additional revenues this fiscal from a record increase in excise duty on petrol and diesel, that will help make up for revenue it lost in shutting down of businesses due to coronavirus lockdown.

Late on Tuesday evening, the government hiked excise duty on petrol by Rs 10 per litre and that on diesel by Rs 13 a litre to mop up gains arising from international oil prices falling to a two-decade low.

This is the second hike in excise duty in less than two months and will help government garner