New Delhi – The government has decided to issue an additional 2.5 million LPG connections under the Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana (PMUY) for the fiscal year 2026. This move is aimed at finalising the backlog of applications and bringing household LPG coverage closer to saturation, the official said on Thursday.
To broaden access, the eligibility rules have been made simpler: only adult women from economically disadvantaged households who submit a Deprivation Declaration are now eligible, Minister of State for Petroleum and Natural Gas Suresh Gopi explained in a written reply to the Lok Sabha.
Since its launch in May 2016, PMUY has delivered around 103.3 million LPG connections as of November 1 2025, according to the same minister.
In an effort to keep LPG affordable and encourage consistent use, the government introduced a targeted subsidy in May 2022, raising the support from ₹200 to ₹300 per 14.2‑kg cylinder.
For FY 2025‑26, the subsidy remains at ₹300 per cylinder, covering up to nine refills for 14.2‑kg cylinders each year, with a proportionate adjustment for 5‑kg cylinders.
LPG consumption is tracked through reports, management information systems (MIS) and consumption profiles monitored by the Petroleum Planning and Analysis Cell and oil marketing companies.
Independent studies have highlighted that the PMUY scheme has made a tangible difference in rural households, especially for women. The switch from solid fuels to LPG has cut indoor air pollution and reduced the risk of respiratory illnesses for women and children who were often exposed to smoke from wood, dung or crop residues.
Additionally, LPG has lightened the load on women in poor households by eliminating the need to gather traditional cooking fuels, freeing up time that can be used for various productive activities.
— LatestNewsX
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