INSUBCONTINENT EXCLUSIVE:
Fuel prices to rise from next week in India: reportNEW DELHI: India will raise petrol and diesel prices next week for the first time in more
than four months as global crude prices soar after Russia's invasion of Ukraine last week, three government officials said, amid growing
concern about inflation.Asia's third-largest economy, which imports 80 per cent of its oil needs, faces retail inflation staying above the
central bank's tolerance limit of 6 per cent as companies pass on a nearly 40 per cent rise in crude prices since November, as well as rises
in prices for other imported raw materials, economists said.State-run oil companies, which control the domestic market, have not raised
prices since November 4, aiming to help Prime Minister Narendra Modi's Bharatiya Janata Party in crucial state assembly elections including
in the most populous state of Uttar Pradesh."The oil companies would be free to raise prices in a phased manner once the election is over on
March 7," a senior government official with the knowledge of internal discussions on oil prices told Reuters.Higher fuel prices could lead
to some protests but with the important state elections out of the way, the political risk for Modi has been reduced
Opposition parties will push for fuel tax cuts when parliament meets from March 14.Oil prices surged after Russia invaded Ukraine on
February 24, with Brent rising above $116 a barrel on Thursday, while supply disruptions have hit global prices of wheat, soybean,
fertiliser and metals like copper, steel and aluminium - raising worries about prices and economic recovery.State oil companies have told
the government that they need a price increase of 10-12 rupees per litre for petrol and diesel, a second official said.A senior official at
a state-run oil marketing company confirmed that they were facing difficulties though he declined to give figures."We are incurring huge
losses," the oil marketing company official said.The government was unlikely to cut fuel taxes to soften the blow, at least before the March
31 end of the fiscal year, considering the impact of that on state revenues, said another senior government official, with knowledge of the
budget.The federal and state governments, which collect over 100 per cent tax on the basic price of petrol and diesel, cut factory gate
duties and sales tax on fuel products in November, after a public outcry."We may consider a proposal to cut fuel tax in April," said the
official with knowledge of the budget, referring to the cut in excise duties on petrol and diesel in November.All three officials declined
to be identified as the discussions are confidential.The finance and oil ministries declined to comment.Growing Inflation FearsEconomists
said a 10 per cent rise in pump prices is likely to push retail inflation by 50-60 basis points through direct and second-order effects,
prompting consumers to cut spending on durables and luxury products.India's retail inflation rose a seven-month high of 6.01 per cent
year-on-year in January, crossing the upper limit of the Reserve Bank of India's (RBI) tolerance band, pushed by rising fuel and
manufacturing prices.Rising retail fuel prices would have a direct impact on prices of household goods and services depending on energy
intensity, said Saugata Bhattacharya, chief economist at Axis Bank."However, the RBI's Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) is unlikely to
immediately start tightening monetary policy, given widespread multi-dimensional uncertainties on growth momentum."
