Government documents show that the retail prices of petrol and high-speed diesel include more than Rs112 to Rs125 per litre in levies, taxes and distribution margins in addition to their base cost.
According to the documents, the base cost of one litre of petrol is Rs209.76, while its official retail price has been set at Rs335.18 per litre. This means Rs125.42 per litre consists of petroleum levy, taxes and various margins.
The petrol price includes Rs80 in petroleum levy, Rs5 climate support levy, Rs17.28 in customs duty, Rs7.16 inland freight equalization margin, Rs7.87 oil marketing company margin and Rs8.64 dealer margin.
Similarly, the base cost of high-speed diesel is Rs270.92 per litre, while the government has fixed its retail price at Rs383.46 per litre. As a result, Rs112.54 per litre comprises levies, taxes and other margins.
According to the documents, diesel includes Rs70.82 petroleum levy, Rs5 climate support levy, Rs15.68 customs duty, Rs4.53 inland freight equalization margin, Rs7.87 oil marketing company margin and Rs8.64 dealer margin.
The official figures indicate that these levies, duties and margins account for the difference between the base cost and the retail prices paid by consumers.
