A government panel has recommended thatthe centre should announce an upfront per litre subsidy for diesel applicable for a particular level of global crude or diesel prices.
  
 The panel has proposed that the maximum retail price for diesel at the depots for particular levels of global crude or diesel prices should be announced. 
 
 The panel, which is working on ‘Policy Options for Diesel Pricing’, has suggested that while considering pass-through of higher global prices, increase in fortnight or month should be restricted to Re 1.
 
 In a booster for private sector players such as Reliance Industries and Essar Oil, the panel also suggests that the per litre subsidy should be available to all oil marketing companies — the Government could consider providing subsidy to private players on their delivery of the product to PSU oil retailers.
 
 On the duty front, it has suggested that there should be neither customs nor excise duties on diesel. Appropriate funding could be made for National Highways Authority of India, which currently receives the earmarked diesel cess, it says.
 
 As regards trade parity pricing, the ratio of import parity and export parity may be changed to 60:40 from the current 80:40.