Fuel Price Surge Impacts Consumers
Consumers across India are grappling with a series of fuel price increases for Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG), Compressed Natural Gas (CNG), and Piped Natural Gas (PNG). The latest adjustments on May 25, 2026, mark a significant rise, particularly for CNG, which has seen multiple hikes in recent days.
Cumulative Hikes and Delhi's CNG Rates
The price of compressed natural gas (CNG) increased by an additional Re 1 per kg, bringing the cumulative hike to Rs 4 per kg. This follows earlier increases of Rs 2 per kg on May 15 and Re 1 per kg on May 17. In Delhi, the price of CNG now stands at ₹81.09 per kg, up from ₹80.09. Similar increases have been observed in neighboring cities.
Global Pressures Drive Domestic Costs
These back-to-back increases follow a prolonged period of stable retail fuel prices. The current surge is attributed to elevated crude oil prices in the global market, tightening refining margins, and a weaker Indian rupee, all contributing to higher import costs for energy. Geopolitical tensions, including the US-Israel attack on Iran and Tehran's retaliation effectively closing the Strait of Hormuz, have also pushed global energy prices upwards since February 28.
City-wise Fuel Prices on May 25, 2026
Here are the latest fuel rates across major Indian cities:
14.2 kg LPG Cylinder Rates:
- Delhi: ₹913
- Bengaluru: ₹915.50
- Hyderabad: ₹965
- Mumbai: ₹912.50
- Chennai: ₹928.50
- Kolkata: ₹939
Commercial (19kg) LPG Cylinder Rates:
- Delhi: ₹3,071.50
- Bengaluru: ₹3,152
- Hyderabad: ₹3,315
- Mumbai: ₹3,024
- Chennai: ₹3,237
- Kolkata: ₹3,202
CNG Prices (per kg):
- Delhi: ₹81.09
- Bengaluru: ₹90
- Hyderabad: ₹97
- Mumbai: ₹81
- Chennai: ₹91.50
- Kolkata: ₹93.50
- Gurugram: ₹86.12
- Ghaziabad: ₹89.70
- Noida: ₹89.70
PNG Prices (per SCM):
- Delhi: ₹47.90
- Bengaluru: ₹52
- Hyderabad: ₹51
- Mumbai: ₹50
- Chennai: ₹50
- Kolkata: ₹50
Government Responds to Energy Crisis
The Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas indicated that despite the recent hikes, oil companies are still incurring daily losses of approximately ₹750 crore. The increases were calibrated to partially ease margin pressure without causing a major inflationary shock, though inflation would still be affected. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has urged ministers and officials to urgently explore alternative energy sources, including biogas as a substitute for LPG cooking gas, to mitigate the impact of rising conventional fuel prices.
India also faces challenges in securing its energy supply, with several Indian-flagged and owned vessels currently stranded in the Gulf region following the effective closure of the Strait of Hormuz. India typically sources over 40 percent of its crude oil and approximately 90 percent of its LPG from the Middle East via this critical shipping lane.