New Delhi, March 21 -- State-run oil marketing companies (OMCs) raised the price of industrial diesel and premium petrol on Friday as surging global crude prices - driven by the West Asia conflict - piled pressure on retail margins.

While pump prices steady for ordinary petrol and diesel consumers have been kept unchanged, Friday's was the first substantial rise in retail fuel prices of any category since March 2024.

Industrial diesel, sold in bulk directly to commercial establishments, was hiked by Rs.21.92 a litre - a 25% increase - taking the price in Delhi from Rs.87.67 to Rs.109.59 per litre. Premium petrol was raised by Rs.2 a litre, from Rs.99.89 to Rs.101.89 in the capital.

Premium petrol usually has higher octane number and so...