Widow and Orphan Cess on Fuel Begins in Himachal Pradesh

Exam-focused facts from the 13 August 2026 current affairs briefing.

Key facts

The Himachal Pradesh government imposed a 60-paise-per-litre cess on petrol and diesel from August 12, 2026.
The 'Widow and Orphan Cess' aims to fund welfare measures for widows and orphans from economically weaker sections.
The levy is notified under the state's Value Added Tax (VAT) law by the State Taxes and Excise Department.
The cess is collected at the first point of sale when an oil company sells fuel to a dealer.
The notification allows the state to increase the cess up to Rs 5 per litre in the future.
The cess is charged in addition to the existing VAT on petrol and high-speed diesel.