The government’s latest decision to raise cooking fuel prices and to do so at regular intervals is part of a plan to restrict the subsidy on liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) and kerosene to below poverty line families.
The three government-owned oil marketing companies (OMCs) have been asked to raise domestic LPG prices by Rs 4 a cylinder every month. Earlier, from July 1, 2016, the government had allowed them to increase the price by Rs 2 a month. The move is likely to save the government at least Rs 6,500 crore on the petroleum subsidy in this financial year. The monthly