petrol-diesel
People using petrol and high-speed diesel in Himachal Pradesh will now have to spend a little more money. Chief Minister Sukhwinder Singh Sukhu’s government has decided to impose ‘Widow and Widow Cess’ of 60 paise per liter on petrol and high-speed diesel. According to the notification issued by the state government, this new cess has come into effect from midnight of August 11.
According to the notification issued by the state tax and excise department, a cess of 60 paise per liter has been imposed at the time of first sale of petrol and high-speed diesel in the state. This means that cess will not be collected separately at each stage of sale at petrol pumps, but it will be collected at the ‘point of first sale’. The revenue from this new cess will be used directly for the welfare schemes of the state.
The amount will be deposited in ‘Orphan and Widow Welfare Fund’
The law also makes it clear that the revenue collected from this cess will be deposited in the ‘Orphan and Widow Welfare Fund’ and will be used for the welfare of orphans and widows. After the approval of the Governor, this Act came into force in April 2026.
The Himachal Pradesh government has officially imposed a Widow and Orphan Cess of 60 paise per liter on petrol and high-speed diesel, with the levy coming into force from midnight on August 11, 2026.
According to the notification, the Orphan and Widow Cess will be charged at Re pic.twitter.com/STG5CrxSGO
— ANI (@ANI) August 11, 2026
Let us tell you that the provision of ‘Orphan and Widow Cess’ was brought in Himachal Pradesh through the ‘Himachal Pradesh Value Added Tax (Amendment) Act, 2026’ passed by the Assembly earlier this year. The law allows cess to be imposed on petrol and high-speed diesel up to a maximum of ₹5 per litre. But the government has issued an increase notification of 60 paise.
Know what Himachal government said
The Himachal Pradesh government says that although several welfare schemes for orphan children and economically weak widows are already running in the state, the need was felt for a dedicated and permanent financial source to support them. The decision to impose this cess on fuel has been taken for this very purpose.
The needy will get help
Chief Minister Sukhwinder Singh Sukhu said that the resources received from cess have been used to strengthen these schemes and provide help to the needy. The government also stressed that the purpose of this measure is not to put additional burden on consumers.
