ATF price hiked by steep 8.5%; commercial LPG rate cut by Rs 100
New Delhi (PTI): Jet fuel or ATF price on Tuesday was hiked by a steep 8.5 per cent - the second increase in a month, while commercial cooking gas rate was cut by Rs 100 per cylinder in line with divergent trends in international benchmarks.
Aviation turbine fuel (ATF) price was increased by 7,728.38 per kilolitre, or 8.5 per cent, in the national capital to Rs 98,508.26 per kl, according to a price notification of state-owned fuel retailers.
Rates, which vary from state to state depending on the incidence of local sales tax or VAT, have been increased on firming up of global rates that followed four months of decline.
The hike comes on the back of a 1.65 per cent or Rs 1,476.79 per kl increase in ATF prices effected from July 1.
Prior to that, rates had been cut on four occasions.
Price of commercial LPG, used in establishments such as hotels and restaurants, on the other hand, was reduced by Rs 100 per cylinder.
A 19-kg commercial LPG cylinder now costs Rs 1,680 in the national capital.
Saudi contract price (CPP), the benchmark used for pricing of LPG, has reduced since peaking in March and the same is reflected in domestic prices, industry officials said.
Globally, jet fuel prices have increased in line with the firming up of global crude oil prices, necessitating the hike in ATF rates.
Commercial LPG rates were cut on three previous monthly revisions beginning April. In three cuts, prices had gone down by Rs 346.5 per 19-kg cylinder.
The price of domestic LPG -- used in the kitchen for cooking purposes -- remained unchanged at Rs 1,103 per 14.2-kg cylinder in the national capital.
Domestic LPG rate was last changed on March 1, when it was hiked by Rs 50 per cylinder.
State-owned Indian Oil Corporation (IOC), Bharat Petroleum Corporation Ltd (BPCL) and Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Ltd (HPCL) revise cooking gas and ATF prices on the 1st of every month based on the average international price in the previous month.
Petrol and diesel prices continued to remain on freeze for a record 16th month in a row. Petrol costs Rs 96.72 per litre in the national capital and diesel comes for Rs 89.62.
State-owned fuel retailers are supposed to revise petrol and diesel prices daily based on a 15-day rolling average of benchmark international fuel prices but they haven't done that since April 6, 2022.
Prices were last changed on May 22, when the government cut excise duty to give relief to consumers from a spike in retail rates that followed a surge in international oil prices.
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NEET student hangs self in Rajasthan's Sikar
Jaipur (PTI): A student preparing for the NEET examination allegedly committed suicide by hanging himself in a rented room in Rajasthan's Sikar on Friday, police said.
According to the police, the student allegedly hanged himself from a ceiling fan using his sister's scarf while one sister was attending coaching classes and the other was in the bathroom.
He had appeared in the NEET UG exam 2026, which was cancelled due to paper leak, they said.
Udyog Nagar SHO Rajesh Kumar said that the deceased, identified as Pradeep Meghwal, was a resident of Kanika ki Dhani village in Jhunjhunu's Gudha Gaudji area.
He had been living in a rented room in Sikar's Jaldhari Nagar area with his two sisters while preparing for NEET over the last three years.
His elder sister later found him hanging and informed the landlord and police after bringing him down, officials said.
The SHO said the body was kept at SK Hospital mortuary, and a postmortem had not been conducted.
The student's father, Rajesh Kumar Meghwal, told police that Pradeep's NEET examination had gone well and the family was expecting him to score around 650 marks.
Former Rajasthan deputy chief minister Sachin Pilot expressed grief over the incident and linked it to anxiety among students after reports of irregularities and paper leaks in NEET 2026.
Pilot said repeated paper leak incidents and cancellation of examinations were affecting students' mental health and demanded a time-bound investigation and strict action against those responsible.
