<h1>Excise duty reduction on petrol and diesel triggers fiscal relief for oil companies amid unchanged retail pump prices.</h1> Excise duty on petrol and diesel was reduced by notification with immediate effect, cutting the levy on petrol and removing the duty on diesel. The change was described as a reduction in the special additional excise duty component paid by oil marketing companies, while retail pump prices for consumers were reported to remain unchanged at the time of the announcement. The measure was reported to provide some fiscal relief to oil companies amid higher input costs, though political criticism said it did not translate into direct consumer relief.