INSUBCONTINENT EXCLUSIVE:
Nirmala Sitharaman has expressed concern over rising crude oil prices due to Ukraine crisisFinance minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Tuesday
expressed concern over rising crude prices due to the Ukraine crisis and indicated that the central government is looking to tap alternative
sources.At an interactive session organised by BJP's Karnataka unit, she was asked about the impact of rising crude prices and war in
Ukraine on the Indian economy."It will certainly have an impact on Indian economy", the finance minister said
"How much we are going to be prepared to take it as a challenge and mitigate the impact is something which we will have see as we go
(along)," she added further.Noting that India imports more than 85 per cent of its crude oil requirements, she said when oil prices go up,
it is a matter of concern and "now we will have to see how it pans out".She pointed out that oil marketing companies fix pump prices based
"But now averages and beyond averages are the numbers that we are talking about".The government is watching to see if there are alternative
sources from where it can get crude, she said but hastened to add, "Obviously global markets are all equally unthinkable at various
sources.""It (rising crude prices) will have a bearing
We have made some provisions for it in the budget
But that provision is only based on some average prevailing earlier but now is beyond that
So, we will have to see how we can work it out," the finance minister said.International benchmark Brent was trading at around $126 per
barrel on Tuesday.On bringing petrol and diesel within the GST ambit, she said, "It's already in there (before the GST Council)
Petrol and diesel are already in the GST (Council)”.
