From October 1, 2026, domestic LPG consumers face a new requirement for booking refills at the regulated Retail Selling Price (RSP) with applicable subsidy. Those seeking to book refills must now complete Biometric Aadhaar Authentication (BAA) to ensure subsidised LPG reaches genuine and deserving households. Each LPG connection is linked to an Aadhaar-authenticated consumer to prevent diversion of subsidised domestic cylinders for commercial and industrial use, remove duplicate and ineligible connections, and make subsidy delivery more targeted and transparent. Consumers who have already completed BAA will not need to repeat the process and can continue booking refills as before, while those who have not completed it will be able to book a refill at the RSP with subsidy once their authentication is completed. The extended deadline was fixed on September 30, 2026, with the Oil Ministry directing oil marketing companies like Indian Oil, BPCL, and HPCL to halt LPG subsidy benefits of customers who have not completed their biometric authentication immediately until they complete the e-KYC process.
Commercial LPG cylinder prices witnessed a significant increase from October 1, with the 19-kg commercial cylinder rising by ₹62.50 to ₹2,810 following a ₹9.50 increase in September. In Delhi, the price of a 19-kg commercial LPG cylinder increased by ₹62.50 to ₹2,810, following a ₹9.50 increase in September when the cylinder was priced at ₹2,747.50. Mumbai's new commercial cylinder price stands at ₹2,764.50, while Chennai's rate has risen to ₹2,983. Patna recorded the highest increase of ₹71.50 to ₹3,100.50. The price hike comes at the start of the festive season, adding pressure to operating expenses for hotels, restaurants, caterers and other businesses that use commercial LPG. For household consumers, there is some relief as the 14.2-kg domestic LPG cylinder remains unchanged at ₹942 in Delhi, ₹941.50 in Mumbai and ₹957.50 in Chennai. According to IndianOil, for a Delhi restaurant, this means a cylinder that previously cost ₹2,747.50 will now cost ₹2,810. The second monthly hike in commercial LPG cylinders is attributed to elevated crude oil prices and rising international crude oil prices on account of escalating tensions in West Asia.
Aviation turbine fuel (ATF) prices were raised by a steep ₹16 per litre from Thursday, increasing to ₹137 per litre for domestic airlines from ₹121. The latest revision comes after ATF prices were raised by ₹6.28 per litre, or 5.46% in September, following a ₹5 per litre increase in August. ATF accounts for up to 40% of operating costs for airlines, making fuel prices a key cost factor for carriers. The price hike reflects movements in international benchmark prices and rupee-dollar exchange rates, with ATF and LPG prices revised on the first day of every month and varying across states due to local taxes. As per Zee News, the latest hike follows an increase of ₹6.28 per litre or 5.46% per cent in September and ₹5 per litre in August, with ATF prices having been increased by ₹5 per litre in August.
One of the biggest changes announced this month was relief to LPG users in rural areas. The ministry has trimmed the booking interval gap for rural area customers to 25 days from 45 days, providing much-needed convenience to consumers in these areas. For urban area customers, the LPG refill booking gap remains unchanged at 25 days, with a revision in this timeline in October being closely watched as the highest number of users for 14.2 Kg cylinders are in urban cities. The ministry also allows consumers who are unwilling or unable to complete BAA to still receive LPG, but they must register this choice on their OMC's digital channels including the consumer web portal, mobile app, WhatsApp chatbot, IVRS or other available channels.
Latest city-wise LPG rates show significant variations across major Indian cities. New Delhi maintains domestic cylinder prices at ₹942 while commercial rates increased to ₹2,810 (+₹62.50). Kolkata shows domestic rates at ₹968 with commercial at ₹2,954 (+₹70). Mumbai domestic prices remain stable at ₹941.50 with commercial at ₹2,764.50 (+₹63.50). Chennai domestic rates are ₹957.50 with commercial at ₹2,983 (+₹66.50). Patna records the highest domestic rates at ₹1,031.50 and commercial at ₹3,100.50 (+₹71.50). Additional cities show Bangalore domestic at ₹944.50 and commercial at ₹2,898 (+₹67), while Hyderabad domestic rates are ₹994 with commercial at ₹3,065 (+₹69). The Gas Cylinder Termination 30-Day Rule introduced in May remains in effect, giving Indian household customers a 30-day period to terminate their LPG connections once they switch to PNG, with relief provided through transfer vouchers for future LPG needs in non-PNG areas.
In a significant policy shift, the Centre has cut windfall taxes on diesel and ATF exports for the fortnight ending October 15, 2026. The Special Additional Excise Duty (SAED) on diesel exports was reduced to ₹16 per litre from ₹20 per litre, while the levy on ATF exports was cut to ₹10.50 per litre from ₹15 per litre. The revised rates took effect from October 1 and will remain applicable for the fortnight through October 15, 2026. The windfall tax on petrol exports remains unchanged at ₹0.50 per litre. This decision comes as oil marketing companies continue to absorb global crude price volatility, with Brent crude rising 0.65% to $103.26 per barrel and West Texas Intermediate crude gaining 0.28% to $89.63 amid escalating US-Iran tensions. Despite these international price pressures, domestic fuel prices have been kept unchanged by state-run oil marketing companies.
