Petrol in Nepal costs more than it does in South Asian countries and even US. Nepal, which imports all of its fuel from India, sells petrol at Rs 74.77 per litre. Similarly, Petrol in India costs more than it does in the US as well as neighboring Pakistan and Sri Lanka, but is cheaper than in Europe. Diesel rates on the other hand are the cheapest in India. Petrol in the national capital costs Rs 68.46 per litre as compared to Rs 53.32 a litre in Pakistan, Rs 61.56 in Sri Lanka and Rs 62.25 in Bangladesh.

Minister of State for Petroleum and Natural Gas R P N Singh said in a written reply to a question in the Lok Sabha. Petrol in US costs Rs 50.44 per litre. But in Europe, the fuel is much costlier - Rs 105.10 in France, Rs 111.03 in Germany, Rs 114.42 in United Kingdom and Rs 119.69 per litre in Italy.

On the other hand, diesel price of Rs 41.32 a litre in the national capital is lower than Rs 59.56 in Pakistan, Rs 41.36 in Sri Lanka, Rs 49.08 in Bangladesh and Rs 57.91 in Nepal.

In the US, diesel is priced at Rs 54.55 per litre, while it costs Rs 77.84 in France, Rs 83.36 in Germany, Rs 99.38 in UK and Rs 93.11 in Italy. "Whereas the price of petrol in India is comparable to many of the countries, the price of diesel in India is lower in comparison to the neighboring and European countries," Singh said.

The difference in rates of petrol and diesel is most due to tax structure - while the government levies Rs 14.78 per litre excise duty on petrol, the levy on diesel is just Rs 2.06 a litre. Within India, petrol is costliest in Kolkata at Rs 76.15 due to high incidence of local sales tax or VAT. It is lowest in Panjim where it is priced at Rs 57 per litre as Goa government does not levy any VAT on the fuel.

West Bengal government levies a VAT of 26.78 per cent while it is 20 per cent in Delhi. VAT makes up for Rs 10.94 in the Rs 68.46 per litre price of petrol in the national capital.

(With information from Indian Express)