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Oil prices have hit an all-time low globally, yet petrol prices in India continue to rise. This has left many people angry and frustrated, as it makes no sense to them that cheaper crude oil is not leading to cheaper fuel at the pump. When the international oil market sees a drop in crude prices, it usually means that countries importing oil should be able to buy it for less. For a country like India, which imports most of its crude oil, this should ideally reduce petrol and diesel costs for consumers. But in reality, that rarely happens. The main reason is that fuel prices in India are heavily controlled by government taxes and duties. Even if crude oil becomes cheaper, the central and state governments often increase excise duties or VAT to earn more revenue. This means that while the raw material gets cheaper, the final product doesn’t. The biggest portion of what people pay at petrol pumps goes to taxes — sometimes more than half the total price. Oil marketing companies also keep some margin, but the majority of the burden comes from taxes. So, the drop in crude oil prices benefits the government more than the common man. People are now criticising this system because it feels unfair. When global oil prices go up, fuel prices in India rise quickly. But when oil prices fall, the government finds ways to keep retail prices high. This one-sided system hurts the middle class and working people who depend on vehicles for daily life. If India truly wants to provide relief t...