The Press Information Bureau (PIB) has officially debunked a viral claim suggesting that petrol and diesel prices will be increased from May 1, issuing a clear clarification to counter the misinformation spreading across social media platforms.
According to the viral message, fuel prices were allegedly set to witness a significant hike, with claims that petrol would become costlier by ₹10 per litre and diesel by ₹12.50 per litre from the beginning of May. The message, presented in the form of an official-looking government order, quickly gained traction online and sparked concern among consumers.
However, the PIB’s Fact Check unit has categorically dismissed the claim, stating that the circulated document is fake and has not been issued by the Government of India. The agency urged citizens not to trust or share such unverified information and advised the public to rely only on official government channels for accurate updates.
In its clarification, the government said there is no decision to increase petrol and diesel prices from May 1. Officials also described the viral order as fabricated and misleading, created to appear authentic and cause confusion among the public.
The fake notice reportedly cited rising global crude oil prices and losses faced by oil marketing companies as reasons for the proposed increase. However, authorities confirmed that these claims are baseless and not backed by any official communication from the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas.
The clarification comes at a time when fuel prices remain a sensitive issue for consumers, especially amid ongoing fluctuations in international crude markets. Any rumours related to fuel price revisions tend to spread quickly and often lead to unnecessary panic.
Government officials reiterated that any genuine decision related to fuel price revisions would be announced only through official notifications and verified public communication platforms.
This is not the first time such misinformation has surfaced. In recent weeks, several similar claims regarding a possible hike in petrol and diesel prices have circulated online, all of which have been denied by the Centre.
The PIB has once again appealed to the public to verify facts before forwarding messages on social media, warning that fake news can create confusion and mislead citizens.
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Edited By D.Rishidhar Reddy
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