New Delhi, March 28 -- The government is working with the guidance to prevent the current West Asian conflict from becoming a burden on its citizens, finance minister Nirmala Sitaraman said on Friday.

Replying to debate on finance bill 2026 in Rajya Sabha, Sitharaman said that government has cut excise duty on petrol from Rs.13 per litre to Rs.3 per litre and completely removed Rs.10 per litre excise duty on diesel with the sole aim of preventing the sudden rise in oil prices globally due to the conflict from becoming a burden on its citizens.

Meanwhile, Parliament on Friday approved the Finance Bill 2026 with the Rajya Sabha returning it to the Lok Sabha with a voice vote, completing the budgetary exercise. The Lok Sabha had passed the...