The price of a 14.2-kg domestic cooking-gas LPG cylinder in Delhi rose by Rs 29 [1], effective June 7, 2024 [5].
This price adjustment impacts millions of households and intensifies political friction over inflation and the cost of living in India. The increase follows a trend of rising energy costs that has put pressure on domestic consumers.
The new price for a cylinder in Delhi is Rs 942 [2], up from the previous price of Rs 913 [3]. This is not the first increase this year, as a previous hike of Rs 60 per cylinder occurred on March 7, 2024 [4].
State-owned fuel retailers said the price hike was due to elevated global energy costs [6]. These costs were driven by supply disruptions in the Middle East [6].
Opposition parties criticized the Centre following the announcement. Rahul Gandhi, a leader of the Congress party, attacked the government's ability to protect its people from economic volatility. "Vishwaguru can't shield own citizens from price shocks," Gandhi said [7].
Gandhi said the timing and nature of the price increase was a political maneuver. "This is an election bill," Gandhi said [8].
The domestic LPG sector remains sensitive to international crude oil and gas price fluctuations, often leaving state-owned distributors to balance global market rates against domestic affordability.
“"Vishwaguru can't shield own citizens from price shocks"”
The recurring price hikes for domestic LPG reflect the vulnerability of India's energy security to geopolitical instability in the Middle East. By passing these costs to consumers, the government faces increased political risk from opposition parties who frame energy inflation as a failure of governance and a burden on the poor.
