The savings would come in the form of reduced fuel subsidy costs and higher petrol and diesel levies, the sources said. In addition, finance ministry officials have proposed restoring a crude oil import duty that was scrapped in 2011.

A plunge of nearly half in oil prices could help Indian Finance Minister Arun Jaitley reap a fiscal windfall of at least USD 12 billion when he presents his 2015/16 budget in February, two government sources told Reuters.

The savings would come in the form of reduced fuel subsidy costs and higher petrol and diesel levies, the sources said. In addition, finance ministry officials have proposed restoring a crude oil import duty that was scrapped in 2011.

As a result, the government would claw back most of the money that India saves on oil imports. That would help Jaitley hit borrowing targets but dilute any boost to consumption in Asia's third-largest economy.

Energy-hungry India imports around 4 million barrels of oil per day and the net cost of the country's oil imports is expected to total USD 88 billion in the fiscal year to next March, based on a budgeted oil price of USD 105 per barrel.

Officials drawing up Jaitley's first full-year budget are penciling in a view that oil prices will average USD 65-USD 70 in 2015/16. That would cut the national import bill by USD 18 billion - or 0.9 percent of GDP, they reckon.

"Benefits from the fall in oil prices would reflect in the budget through lower oil subsidies and higher tax projections next year," one senior finance ministry official told Reuters. The sources estimate that the overall fiscal boost can total 750 billion rupees (USD 12 billion). More than half, 400 billion rupees, would come from savings on oil subsidies.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, in power since May, has freed prices for diesel, which account for 40 percent of consumption of refined fuels.

Taking advantage of the resulting fall in pump prices, his government has raised factory gate duties on petrol and diesel twice in the last month. That means state coffers, and not drivers, will benefit to the tune of USD 1.6 billion this fiscal year and nearly USD 5 billion next year.

A revival in the profitability of state-owned oil refiners like Hindustan Petroleum Corporation and Indian Oil Corporation could generate another USD 1 billion in extra revenues.

Further, ministry officials recommend restoring the old 5 percent crude oil import duty in full. This would require Modi's approval, and if implemented could raise up to USD 4 billion more, lifting total potential fiscal gains to over USD 16 billion.

"A proposal to impose import duty on crude oil is under consideration," said another finance ministry source. "The final decision could be announced in the budget." Both sources requested anonymity, because they were not authorized to speak to the press on the record.

Source:moneycontrol.com