India increased fuel prices by 3% after the energy crisis caused by the Iran war and the closure of the Strait of Hormuz began impacting the economy. Prime Minister Modi urged the public to work from home, use public transport, and save energy for the nation.
On 15 May 2026 GMT+7, the Indian government announced a fuel price hike to offset the impact of energy supply shortages, raising prices by 3 Indian rupees per liter, approximately 1.30 baht. After the adjustment, gasoline costs 97.77 rupees per liter (about 41.80 baht), while diesel rose to 90.67 rupees per liter (around 38.80 baht).
India ranks as the world's third-largest oil importer, relying on imports for more than 90% of its oil, with about half of its crude oil transported through the Strait of Hormuz. This region is currently affected by the conflict involving the U.S., Israel, and Iran. Until now, the Indian government has tried to keep domestic fuel prices stable, making India one of the few major economies that has not passed global oil price increases directly to consumers.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi called on citizens to join the "Energy Saving for the Nation" initiative, requesting cooperation to work from home as much as possible, reduce foreign travel, cut gold purchases, and increase use of public transportation or carpooling.
Modi also stated that saving fuel is a patriotic act, while the opposition noted that the government decided to raise fuel prices only after key local elections had concluded.
New Delhi became the first city in India to implement energy-saving measures, requiring some civil servants to work from home two days a week, launching a 90-day campaign to reduce fuel use, and asking the private sector to join these efforts. Concurrently, India is accelerating the use of ethanol-blended fuels to reduce reliance on imported oil. Many gas stations now sell fuel blended with 20% ethanol, and the government is promoting fuels with up to 85% or 100% ethanol content for compatible vehicles.
Source: Aljazeera