Indian 2018 budget looks to drop excise duty on E5

In India, the finance ministry has proposed in the 2018 national budget an elimination of road and infrastructure taxes under excise duty from E5 at the pump. The move would reduce the pump cost for 5% ethanol blended gasoline in an attempt to boost consumption of the fuel. Other state and national taxes applied to fuel will still be applied to E5 should the proposal be approved as part of the national budget. The move is part of a wider push by the national government to support agriculture and rural areas.