New Delhi, March 27 -- The central government on Friday said that it has cut excise duty on petrol and diesel by Rs 10 per litre each to provide protection to consumers from rise in prices of fuel triggered by war in West Asia.

As per a government notification issued on March 26, special additional excise duties on petrol has been cut to Rs 3 per litre from Rs 13 per litre earlier. The duty on diesel has been slashed to Nil from Rs 10 per litre earlier.

The notification has come into force with immediate effect.

At the same time, the government has imposed duties on exports of diesel at Rs 21.5 per litre and on aviation turbine fuel (ATF) at Rs 29.5 per litre.

"This will ensure adequate availability of these products for domestic cons...