New Delhi / Kolkata, April 29: The Press Information Bureau’s Fact Check unit has confirmed that an order widely circulated on social media on Wednesday — claiming that the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas had hiked petrol prices by ₹10 per litre and diesel prices by ₹12.50 per litre with immediate effect — is entirely fake. The Government of India has issued no such order.
“An order circulating on social media claims to be issued by the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas, stating that petrol and diesel prices have been increased by ₹10 and ₹12.50, respectively. The Government of India has NOT issued any such Order. Always VERIFY such news only through official government sources,” PIB Fact Check stated in its official release.
The fabricated document, designed to resemble an official Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas order dated April 29, 2026, claimed that global crude oil prices had risen by over 100 per cent in recent months, resulting in under-recoveries of Rs 24.40 per litre on petrol and Rs 104.99 per litre on diesel, necessitating an immediate upward revision in retail prices. A companion document mimicking a Ministry of Finance excise notification was also in circulation, purporting to provide the legal basis for the hike under the Central Excise Act, 1944.
The documents spread rapidly across X, WhatsApp, and other platforms on voting day for the second and final phase of the West Bengal Assembly Elections 2026, when 142 constituencies across Kolkata, Howrah, North and South 24 Parganas, Nadia, Hooghly, and Purba Bardhaman went to polls. Several verified accounts with significant followings shared the documents, amplifying the misinformation to tens of thousands of users while voting was still underway.
PIB Fact Check has urged citizens to verify all such claims exclusively through official government sources before sharing. Petrol and diesel retail prices across India remain unchanged today, consistent with the pricing stability maintained by public sector Oil Marketing Companies — Indian Oil Corporation, Bharat Petroleum, and Hindustan Petroleum — over recent months. In Delhi, petrol continues to be sold at Rs 94.77 per litre and diesel at Rs 87.67 per litre. In Mumbai, petrol stands at Rs 103.54 per litre and diesel at Rs 90.03 per litre.
The incident highlights the recurring problem of fabricated government documents being deployed as political tools during sensitive electoral periods. The Election Commission of India and relevant agencies are yet to comment on whether formal complaints have been filed in connection with the circulation of the fake order.
Results for both phases of the West Bengal Assembly Elections 2026 will be declared on May 2.