Motorists in Himachal Pradesh will now have to shell out more at the pump. From midnight of August 11, 2026, petrol and high-speed diesel across the state became costlier by 60 paise per litre after Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu's government rolled out a new levy called the 'Orphan and Widow Cess', aimed at raising funds for the welfare of orphaned children and widows in the state.
Petrol now costs Rs 103.05 a litre in Shimla
The impact of the decision is most visible in the state capital Shimla, where petrol prices have risen from Rs 102.45 per litre to Rs 103.05 per litre. High-speed diesel has also been loaded with the same additional cess of 60 paise per litre, pushing up diesel prices as well.
Cess imposed under Section 6-A of the 2005 VAT Act
According to a notification issued by the State Taxes and Excise Department, the cess has been levied under Section 6-A of the Himachal Pradesh Value Added Tax Act, 2005. The levy will be collected at the Point of First Sale of petrol and high-speed diesel, meaning the extra charge gets added when oil companies first sell the fuel to dealers, with the cost eventually passed on to consumers.
Funds to go toward welfare of orphans and widows
The state government has said that the money collected through this cess will be used for welfare and support programmes for orphaned children and widows across Himachal Pradesh. In effect, the funds are meant to support rehabilitation, education and financial assistance for these two vulnerable groups. Since the decision came into force, petrol and diesel prices have seen this modest increase across the state, though the exact retail price may vary slightly from district to district depending on local taxes.
