New Delhi (India), June 9: The Central government has reduced the number of subsidized LPG cylinders available annually to beneficiaries of the Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana (PMUY) from nine to four, a move that comes just days after a ₹29 increase in the price of a 14.2 kg domestic cooking gas cylinder.
The reduction in subsidy coverage was confirmed by officials from the Petroleum Ministry, which said the decision was based on the average annual consumption pattern of Ujjwala beneficiaries.
On Monday, addressing the media, Additional Secretary in the Petroleum Ministry Praveen Mal Khanuja said that LPG consumers continue to receive substantial support from the government.
According to him, while a cylinder's market-linked cost could be significantly higher, domestic consumers currently pay ₹942 per cylinder in Delhi, reflecting an indirect subsidy provided across the board.
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Khanuja added that beneficiaries under the Ujjwala scheme receive an additional subsidy of ₹300 per cylinder, taking the total government support to around ₹1,000 per cylinder for eligible households.
The Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana, launched in 2016 to provide clean cooking fuel to poor households, initially offered subsidy support on up to 12 LPG cylinders annually. Last year, the entitlement was reduced from 12 to nine cylinders, with the government citing average consumption data showing that most beneficiary families used around eight to nine cylinders per year.
Officials now say consumption patterns have changed further. The latest reduction from nine to four cylinders has been justified on the grounds that the average Ujjwala household currently consumes only about four LPG cylinders annually.
The availability of subsidized cylinders has been rationalized to align with actual consumption, officials said.
The decision is expected to impact approximately 105 million households covered under the scheme and is likely to reignite debate over the future of targeted welfare subsidies and the extent to which rising fuel costs should be absorbed by consumers versus the government.
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The announcement has also drawn attention because it coincides with the recent increase in domestic LPG prices, raising concerns among opposition parties and welfare advocates about the affordability of clean cooking fuel for low-income families.
With the revised entitlement taking effect immediately, Ujjwala beneficiaries will now be eligible for subsidy support on only four cylinders in a financial year, while additional cylinders, if purchased, will be available at the prevailing market price.
Ends.
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