-The Business Standard CM has withdran 5% VAT relief on subsidized, non-subsidized cooking gas After the centre’s decision to hike fuel prices through decontrol mechanism, it is virtually double jeopardy for the people in Uttarakhand with the state government withdrawing Value Added Tax (VAT) relief on the Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) cylinders. In the latest decision, chief minister Vijay Bahuguna, who is heading Congress-led coalition government in the hill state, withdrew 5% VAT...

-The Times of India It appears to be one step forward and two steps back for the government in so far as pruning of fuel subsidy bill is concerned. The latest example is the oil ministry's order asking state-run fuel retailers to supply cooking gas cylinders at subsidized rate to non-domestic consumers such as canteens, medical institutions and mid-day meal kitchens. The order on cooking gas, issued on Tuesday, comes close on...

-The Hindustan Times The government is hoping to substantially negate the political fallout of higher diesel and cooking gas (subsidised LPG cylinder) prices by doubling the cap on the number of subsidised LPG cylinders from six to 12 a year. A proposal to this effect has  been readied for a final decision by the Cabinet, a senior government official confirmed to HT. Such a move will “substantially mollify” people who are...

-The Hindu Subsidies on cooking gas, kerosene and diesel have resulted in perverse outcomes not envisaged when they were introduced With the Aadhaar-based direct cash transfer scheme facing so many glitches in implementation, any hopes that the country’s energy sector can soon dismount the subsidy tiger it has been riding so dangerously have receded into the background. Had the Aadhaar scheme worked satisfactorily, the next logical step would have been to extend...

-PTI The oil ministry has proposed a Rs 3-4.50 per litre hike in diesel price and Rs 100 in LPG rates along with raising the number of subsidised cooking gas cylinders for households to nine a year from the current cap of six. The ministry has moved a note for consideration of the Cabinet proposing options for meeting a record Rs 160,000 crore deficit arising from selling auto and Cooking Fuels below...