Even as the Union Cabinet gave its nod on Thursday to raise the cap on supply of subsidised LPG cylinders to nine cylinders from six per year per household, the oil marketing companies (OMCs) were gearing up to marginally raise the diesel prices, which could happen by Thursday itself.

The Cabinet Committee on Political Affairs (CCPA), which met under the leadership of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, authorised the OMCs to periodically raise the diesel prices in small quantum to cover up the Rs. 9.60 paise per litre loss being incurred by them.