The week in charts: Jet fuel prices, FPI exodus, E20 vehicle gap
₹1.05 lakh per kilolitre, though lower than initially announced.On Wednesday, state-run oil marketing companies briefly hiked jet fuel prices by more than 100% before rolling back the increase for domestic scheduled flights following government intervention.International routes, however, will bear the full increase, setting the stage for costlier overseas travel ahead of the peak summer season. With ATF accounting for a substantial share of airline operating costs, carriers are expected to pass on the higher burden, making outbound travel more expensive in the coming weeks.FY26 proved turbulent for Indian equities, with foreign portfolio investors (FPIs) turning decisively bearish amid mounting global headwinds—from US-led tariff disruptions to the West Asia war.Net FPI outflows totalled ₹1.8 trillion in FY26, the highest since records began in 1992, according to a Mint analysis of National Securities Depository Ltd (NSDL) data, exceeding all previous episodes, including the global financial crisis in FY09.The selloff intensified towards end of the year, with March 2026 alone recording ₹1.2 trillion in outflows, as geopolitical uncertainty fuelled fears of FY27 earnings downgrades and unsettled India’s macroeconomic outlook.
The post-pandemic earnings surge that once attracted FPIs has lost steam, and with the rupee weakening nearly 10.5% over the past year, foreign investors are increasingly quick to pull back at the first sign of risk.From 1 April, petrol pumps across India will dispense E20 fuel—petrol blended with 20% ethanol—following a mid-February government mandate aimed at reducing crude import dependence. Vehicle readiness, however, presents a more sobering picture.A Mint analysis of transport ministry data
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