Petrol, Diesel Prices Hold Steady on Sep 17 as Export Levies Trimmed

On the morning of September 17, 2026, you’d hardly notice a difference at the pump. The numbers for petrol and diesel in Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru and the rest of the big towns were essentially flat, despite a fresh cut in export levies announced just a day earlier.

The government, on September 16, trimmed the export levy on petrol from ₹1.50 to ₹0.50 per litre, and lowered the diesel export levy from ₹25 to ₹20 per litre. Aviation turbine fuel (ATF) also saw a modest drop – from ₹19 to ₹15 per litre. These changes apply only to fuel shipped abroad; the excise duty that domestic buyers pay stayed exactly where it was.

What does that mean for you at the pump? In practice, not much – at least for now. Retailers continue to price fuel under the daily pricing mechanism, which is refreshed around 6 a.m. each day. Since the domestic excise component didn’t move, the shelf‑price in most cities didn’t budge.

Here’s a quick snapshot of the rates that were in force on September 17:

Why do these numbers differ from city to city? The short answer is that fuel in India sits outside the GST regime. Each state tacks on its own VAT and other local charges, which can vary widely. Add to that the ever‑shifting crude‑oil price, the rupee‑dollar exchange rate and the daily market dynamics, and you get a patchwork of prices.

So, while the centre’s decision to lower export levies will help Indian oil firms be more competitive abroad for the next two weeks, the average motorist isn’t seeing a direct benefit yet. Keep an eye on the daily updates – if the government eventually eases domestic excise duties, you’ll be the first to notice the dip at the pump.

For the moment, though, the headline is simple: export‑levy cuts, but retail fuel prices remain broadly stable across India’s major metros.