TL;DR India consumed about 124 billion litres of diesel and 62 billion litres of petrol between April 2025 and April 2026, with diesel demand remaining nearly twice that of petrol. This is understandable as diesel consumption is primarily in commercial, freight, agriculture, and industrial activity, while petrol consumption is more closely linked to personal mobility and urban transport. Agricultural and industrial-heavy states such as Haryana and Punjab recorded the highest diesel consumption among major states, while Kerala and Telangana led petrol consumption due to stronger tourism, urbanisation, and private vehicle use.

Context

On May 10, 2026, PM Modi publicly urged citizens to reduce fuel consumption alongside other import-heavy expenditures such as gold purchases and foreign travel. The remarks came during a period of rising global commodity prices, geopolitical uncertainty, and concerns over India’s import bill. India remains one of the world’s largest crude oil importers, and fuel consumption levels directly affect import expenditure, foreign exchange outflows, and inflationary pressures.

Regardless of the appeal, examining the Petroleum Planning and Analysis Cell’s consumption data provides a clearer understanding of actual fuel demand patterns, regional consumption differences, and the broader economic significance of petrol and diesel usage in India.

Who Compiles This Data?
The data comes from the Petroleum Planning and Analysis Cell (PPAC), functioning under the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas, Government of India.

PPAC tracks monthly and yearly fuel production, imports, exports, and state-wise consumption across India. For this article, fuel consumption has been translated from thousand metric tonnes into litres for easier public understanding using standard fuel density conversions.

Where can I download Clean & Structured Data on Petrol and Diesel?

Clean, standardised, structured, and analysis-ready datasets covering year, month, and state-wise petrol and diesel consumption in India are available on Dataful.

Key Insights

India consumes enormous fuel volumes every month, with diesel dominating national demand

Between April 2025 and April 2026, India consumed about 124 billion litres of diesel and roughly 62 billion litres of petrol.

• Average monthly diesel consumption: 9.55 billion litres

• Average monthly petrol consumption: 4.78 billion litres

Diesel consumption was consistently two times the petrol consumption, reflecting its dominant role in freight transport, agriculture, public transport, and industrial logistics.

March 2026 recorded the highest combined fuel demand:

• Diesel: 10.51 billion litres

• Petrol: 5.07 billion litres

This consumption pattern highlights how diesel remains the backbone of India’s economic machinery, powering the large-scale movement of goods and essential services, while petrol demand reflects growing personal mobility. Together, the data show that India’s fuel requirements are not just massive but deeply tied to both economic growth and everyday functioning.

Per capita fuel consumption across major states reveals economic and mobility differences

While smaller Union Territories and remote territories often report unusually high per capita fuel consumption due to tourism, logistics concentration, or low population bases, larger states provide a more balanced view of mainstream fuel demand across India.

Across all selected states, diesel consumption remains consistently higher than petrol, reflecting India’s heavy dependence on diesel for freight movement, agriculture, industrial activity, and logistics.

• Haryana recorded the highest per capita diesel consumption at 164 litres per person, likely driven by agriculture, freight transport, and industrial activity.

• Punjab and Himachal Pradesh also showed strong per capita diesel demand, reflecting agricultural reliance and terrain-driven transport needs.

• Kerala recorded the highest per capita petrol consumption among major states at 70 litres, likely influenced by tourism, private mobility, and urban transport.

• Telangana, Gujarat, and Maharashtra reflect a mix of industrial growth, urbanisation, and commercial movement.

This shows that petrol consumption is generally associated with private transport, tourism, and personal mobility, whereas diesel consumption is more closely tied to agriculture, freight, logistics, and industrial sectors.

Overall, states with stronger agricultural or industrial economies tend to consume significantly more diesel, while tourism-heavy and urbanised regions often show relatively higher petrol use.

Why Does It Matter? 

India’s fuel consumption patterns reflect broader economic realities. High diesel dependence underscores its importance in agriculture, freight, and industrial logistics, while petrol demand signals personal mobility and tourism growth. As one of the world’s largest crude importers, India’s rising fuel demand directly influences import costs, inflation, and long-term energy security.

Key Numbers (April 2025 to April 2026)

• Total diesel consumption: ~124 billion litres

• Total petrol consumption: ~62 billion litres

• Average monthly diesel consumption: 9.55 billion litres

• Average monthly petrol consumption: 4.78 billion litres

• Highest petrol consumption among major states: Kerala at 70 litres/person

• Highest diesel consumption among major states: Haryana at 164 litres/person

• Highest petrol per capita overall: Goa at 190 litres/person

• Highest diesel per capita overall: Andaman and Nicobar Islands at 529 litres/person