Effective May 16, the Indian government will impose a ₹3 per litre windfall tax on petrol exports while reducing the export duty on diesel to ₹16.5 per litre and aviation turbine fuel to ₹16 per litre. This decision by the Finance Ministry is aimed at increasing domestic fuel availability amid ongoing geopolitical tensions, particularly following the military actions in West Asia that have driven crude oil prices above $100 per barrel. The new tax on petrol exports is a response to ensure that exporters do not take undue advantage of price differences in the global market. Prior to this, the government had made several adjustments to export duties, including a hike in March and subsequent reductions in April. The latest changes come as state-run oil marketing companies have also raised domestic fuel prices by up to ₹3 per litre to offset rising international energy costs, reflecting the volatility in global crude oil markets.