GST Hike Squeezes Oil Explorers as Tax Burden Climbs to 18%
Executive note
India’s oil exploration sector faces a punishing fiscal blow after the GST Council’s decision to raise service taxes from 12% to 18%. The September 2025 hike will saddle upstream companies with billions in additional costs, squeezing ONGC, Oil India, Vedanta and Reliance at a time when commodity price volatility and currency pressures already challenge project economics across the energy sector.
India’s upstream oil and gas industry has absorbed a significant fiscal shock following the Goods and Services Tax (GST) Council’s decision to increase rates on exploration and production services. The tax rate climbs to 18% from 12%, effective September 22, 2025, covering petroleum exploration, mining, drilling, and related support activities across the sector.
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