Petrol prices jump to a four-year high, Modi government remains mute spectator
New Delhi: The Centre remained a mute spectator as petrol prices jumped a four-year high of Rs 73.73 per litre in Delhi on Sunday and diesel rates climbed to an all-time high.
In between 2014-16, the government raised excise duty on the two fuels nine times saying that it would reduce the levy when prices go up significantly.
In February, the government had last abolished the additional excise duty on the fuels by Rs 6 but the effect was negated after a new road cess of Rs 8 per litre was introduced on the Union Budget day.
Since June last year, petrol prices are being revised on a day-to-day basis.
After crude oil prices started nearing $70 a barrel, the petroleum ministry had sought finance ministry's intervention to cut down the excise duty on petrol and diesel in the Budget. But Finance Minister Arun Jaitley's Budget did not affect any such cut.
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Delhi records high of 32.7 deg C; AQI remains 'moderate'
New Delhi (PTI): The maximum temperature in Delhi settled at 32.7 degrees Celsius on Sunday, 1.3 notches below the seasonal average, according to the India Meteorological Department.
The minimum temperature was recorded at 20.1 degrees Celsius on Sunday, 1.3 notches below the average for the season, while the relative humidity stood at 46 per cent at 5.30 pm, the IMD said.
The weather department has forecast a partly cloudy sky for Monday with the maximum and minimum temperatures expected to hover around 34 and 19 degrees Celsius, respectively.
The air quality remained 'moderate' at 4 pm, with an Air Quality Index (AQI) reading of 134, a slight drop from Saturday’s 137, Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) data showed.
According to the CPCB, an AQI between zero and 50 is considered 'good', 51 and 100 'satisfactory', 101 and 200 'moderate', 201 and 300 'poor', 301 and 400 'very poor', and 401 and 500 'severe'.
