New Delhi, May 31: The government has halved windfall gains tax on export of petrol to Rs 1.5 litre, while reducing the levy on diesel to Rs 13.5/litre and aviation turbine fuel to Rs 9.5/litre effective June 1.

The finance ministry in a notification said road and infrastructure cess will be nil on export of petrol and diesel.

Also, there is no change in the existing duty rates on petrol and diesel cleared for domestic consumption.

The special additional excise duty (SAED) on petrol at Rs 3/litre was imposed on May 16 and the fortnightly review slashed it to Rs 1.5/litre from June 1.

The duty on export of diesel has been reduced to Rs 13.5 per litre, from Rs 16.5 per litre, and aviation turbine fuel to Rs 9.5 per litre, from Rs 16 per litre from June 1.

The government had on March 26 imposed an export duty of Rs 21.50 a litre on diesel, and Rs 29.5 a litre on ATF. In the review on April 11, the duties were hiked to Rs 55.5/litre and Rs 42/litre. In the April 30 review, they were cut to Rs 23/litre and Rs 33/litre, and further slashed to Rs 16.5/litre and Rs 16/litre on May 16.

The windfall tax was levied to increase domestic availability of the fuel amid the US-Israel and Iran war.

It was also aimed at not allowing exporters to take undue advantage due to price differences as globally crude oil prices had risen since the beginning of the war.

On February 28, the United States and Israel launched military strikes against Iran, triggering sweeping retaliation from Tehran.

Crude oil prices have remained above USD 100 per barrel over the past week, from the about USD 73 per barrel before the war.

The windfall tax was to ensure domestic availability of petroleum products by disincentivising exports against the backdrop of the West Asia crisis, the ministry said.

Leading paint manufacturer Berger Paints plans to strengthen its presence in smaller towns and rural markets of Uttar Pradesh as it seeks to expand its reach in one of its fastest-growing markets, a senior company official said.

Its Managing Director and CEO Abhijit Roy told PTI that the company is expanding its footprint in areas where its presence remains relatively limited. While Berger Paints already has a strong position in central Uttar Pradesh, it is now looking to deepen its penetration in the eastern and western parts of the state.

Roy said the company currently has a network of more than 6,000 dealers across Uttar Pradesh and is working to further strengthen its market reach by entering new areas and enhancing its ground-level presence in smaller cities and rural markets.

According to the company, Uttar Pradesh contributes around Rs 1,500 crore annually to its business.

The chief executive said the state is expected to become an even more important market in the coming years, driven by rising industrial activity and the resulting increase in demand for paints and coatings.

Berger Paints has invested more than Rs 1,200 crore in its manufacturing facility in Sandila, near Lucknow, and another Rs 200 crore for expansion. The unit supplies a wide range of products, including decorative paints and industrial coatings.

Roy said the company is also considering setting up two more warehouses to improve its logistics and servicing capabilities in the state.

He noted that demand for paint products in Uttar Pradesh continues to be supported by urbanisation, infrastructure development and industrial growth. Besides decorative paints, segments, such as protective and powder coatings, are also witnessing strong growth.

Shopian, May 30: An intense hailstorm battered more than a dozen apple-producing villages in south Kashmir’s Shopian district on Saturday evening, damaging orchards across large areas and triggering fresh anxiety among growers already grappling with repeated weather-related losses this season.
The hailstorm swept through over 15 villages in both the plains and upper reaches of the district, including Ganowpora, Kanipora, Sindoo Shirmal, Keegam, Zawoora, Pinjora, Largam, Meemander, Gagren, Ramnagri, Amshipora and parts of Shopian town, causing damage to apple orchards at a critical stage of fruit development.

Farmers said the storm lasted between seven and ten minutes, pelting orchards with hailstones that damaged fruit and foliage, raising fears of reduced yields and financial losses.

Mohammad Ashraf Wani, president of the Fruit Mandi Shopian, said the upper reaches appeared to have borne the brunt of the storm, though the scale of destruction was still being assessed.
“The hailstorm was more intense in the upper areas. The actual extent of losses, however, can only be determined after a detailed assessment,” Wani said.

The latest weather event marks the fifth hailstorm to hit Shopian this season, compounding concerns among apple growers who say repeated spells of extreme weather are threatening orchard productivity and livelihoods.

Zahid Ahmad, an orchardist from Shopian, said the storm had inflicted substantial damage on his orchard.
“The pea-sized hailstones caused nearly 30 to 40 percent damage to my orchard. Both the fruit and leaves have been affected,” he said.
Several growers estimated losses exceeding 40 percent and urged authorities to immediately conduct a field assessment and extend compensation to affected farmers.

The repeated crop damage has also revived calls for a comprehensive insurance mechanism for Kashmir’s horticulture sector, with growers arguing that farmers remain exposed to recurring climate-related shocks such as hailstorms, unseasonal rainfall and windstorms without adequate financial safeguards.

“We face losses almost every year due to extreme weather, but there is little support when crops are damaged,” said Abdul Rasheed, an orchardist from Shopian.

“A practical crop insurance scheme is essential to safeguard growers and sustain the horticulture sector,” he added.
The latest hailstorm has heightened concerns at a crucial stage of the apple season, with growers warning that further adverse weather could affect fruit quality, reduce output and impact market returns.

Shopian, one of Kashmir’s leading apple-producing districts, forms a vital pillar of the Valley’s horticulture economy and supports thousands of farming households dependent on apple cultivation for their livelihood.