Now Reading: Petroleum Act draft decriminalises licence breaches, raises fines
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Petroleum Act draft decriminalises licence breaches, raises fines
The Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas has released the draft Petroleum (Amendment) Bill, 2026, proposing to treat breaches of licence terms as regulatory violations rather than criminal offences. Livemint reports that under proposed Section 23C, a first breach could draw a civil penalty of up to Rs 2.5 crore, while a second or subsequent breach could cost up to Rs 5 crore. The Hindu Businessline notes the government aims to decriminalise minor offences under the Petroleum Act, 1934.
The existing penalty framework, last amended in 1970, has become inadequate given the sector's scale, the government said. Livemint reports that petrol cost around Rs 0.90 per litre in 1970 versus Rs 95 to 105 in 2026. Unlicensed petroleum activity could still attract imprisonment of up to three years and a fine of up to Rs 25 crore. Damage to critical petroleum infrastructure could draw up to 10 years in prison and a fine of up to Rs 25 crore. The draft is open for stakeholder comments until October 30, 2026.
Indian Opinion Analysis
Both Livemint and The Hindu Businessline cover the Petroleum Act draft as a neutral policy announcement, with no discernible slant. Each source leads with the decriminalisation of licence breaches and the steep new fines for serious offences, citing identical government data on petrol prices and refinery capacity since 1970. Neither outlet questions the government's rationale or omits key figures. The uniform coverage reflects wire-style reporting of a consultation-stage bill, leaving the outcome open until feedback closes on October 30, 2026.
Coverage: 2 sources, 2 neutral
Sources (2): livemint.com (neutral report), thehindubusinessline.com (neutral report)
This brief was synthesised by AI from the 2 sources linked above, so one read covers every framing they carry. Methodology and corrections.
