Petrol and diesel rates went up for the third time within eight days on Saturday, May 23, 2026, rising by roughly 90 paise per litre on average nationwide for all grades. Compressed natural gas prices in parts of North India also climbed by one rupee per kilogram for the third time in the same period. In Delhi, petrol reached 99.51 rupees per litre after an 87-paise increase, while diesel hit 92.49 rupees following a 91-paise rise. CNG in the capital now stands at 81.09 rupees per kilogram. Since the initial adjustment on May 15, both fuels have gained about 4.80 rupees per litre overall through three rounds. The first change added three rupees, with two later rounds of around 90 paise each occurring on May 19 and May 23. The moves respond to higher crude costs amid supply strains from regional tensions in West Asia. Oil marketing firms continue to incur daily losses on fuel sales, though the increases have reduced those losses from about 1,000 crore to roughly 750 crore rupees per day. Premium grades also saw similar adjustments. Kolkata recorded larger increases than other major cities, with petrol up 94 paise to 110.64 rupees and diesel up 95 paise to 97.02 rupees. Mumbai saw petrol rise 90 paise to 108.49 rupees and diesel 94 paise to 95.02 rupees. Chennai posted smaller gains, with petrol up 82 paise to 105.31 rupees and diesel up 87 paise to 96.98 rupees. CNG rates increased across several northern cities including Ghaziabad, Noida, Meerut, Ajmer, Rewari and Gurugram. Benchmark Brent crude stayed above 100 dollars per barrel, with India’s basket averaging near 108 dollars in May. Bengaluru petrol reached 108.09 rupees and diesel 95.99 rupees after the latest revision.
