Petrol, Diesel Prices Hiked Again By 90 Paise — Second Rise in Five Days

India's state-run oil marketing companies (OMCs), Indian Oil Corporation (IOC), Bharat Petroleum (BPCL) and Hindustan Petroleum (HPCL), have raised petrol and diesel prices by approximately 90 paise per litre effective today (May 19, 2026). This is the second revision within five days, following the ₹3-per-litre hike on May 15 that ended a near four-year price freeze.

With both increases combined, fuel prices have risen by approximately ₹3.90 per litre since Friday. Petrol and diesel are now at their highest levels since May 2022, and rates continue to vary across states due to differences in value-added tax.

City-Wise Fuel Prices (May 19, 2026) - Metros & Bengaluru

In Delhi, petrol now stands at ₹98.64 per litre (up 87 paise) and diesel at ₹91.58 per litre (up 91 paise). Mumbai saw petrol rise 91 paise to ₹107.59 per litre, with diesel up 94 paise to ₹94.08 per litre. Kolkata recorded the steepest increase among metros, with petrol climbing 96 paise to ₹109.70 per litre and diesel rising 94 paise to ₹96.07 per litre.

In Chennai, petrol went up 82 paise to ₹104.49 per litre and diesel by 86 paise to ₹96.11 per litre. Bengaluru motorists now pay ₹107.12 per litre for petrol and ₹95.04 per litre for diesel following the latest revision.

Why Are Fuel Prices Rising?

The West Asia conflict - triggered by US-Israeli strikes on Iran on February 28 and Tehran's subsequent retaliation - disrupted oil flows through the Strait of Hormuz. India's crude import basket averaged $69 per barrel in February before the conflict; it surged to $113-114 per barrel in the weeks that followed. State-run retailers absorbed those losses for nearly 11 weeks before the May 15 revision became financially unavoidable.

The ₹3-per-litre May 15 hike addressed only a portion of that gap. Tuesday's 90 paise revision offers further partial relief, but industry sources confirm significant under-recovery continues across all three OMCs.

More Hikes Likely

CNG prices have also moved alongside petrol and diesel. OMCs raised rates by ₹2 per kg on May 15, followed by a further ₹1 per kg hike on Sunday. The government has separately encouraged work-from-home and directed departments to limit travel to contain the rising oil import bill.