India closed the financial year 2020-2021 with a nine per cent decline in total fuel consumption over the same period last year. This fall is primarily attributed to Covid-19 lockdowns induced slump in economic activities. According to data shared by the Petroleum Planning and Analysis Cell, India’s total fuel consumption stood at 194.63 million tonnes (mt) during the year under review, down from 214.13 mt a year ago. This is a four year low with 194.60 mt fuel consumption last reported in fiscal 2016-2017. It is also the first recorded overall decline in the country's fuel consumption. Petrol consumption stood 6.75 per cent lower from 30 million tonnes in 2019-2020 to 28 mt in 2020-2021. The fall was muted on account of a rise in preference for personal mobility in the later months of the financial year as COVID-19 lockdowns were relaxed.