Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana (PMUY) was launched in May, 2016 with an objective to provide deposit free LPG connection to adult women from poor households across the country. As of November 1, 2024, the total number of active domestic LPG consumers in India stands at 32.83 crore, which includes 10.33 crore beneficiaries of the Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana (PMUY). This represents a significant increase from 16.63 crore domestic LPG consumers as of April 1, 2016. Implementation of PMUY has contributed to improvement in LPG coverage in the country from 62% in April 2016 to near saturation now.

Further, the consumption of Domestic LPG has also improved significantly, thanks to implementation of PMUY and its contribution to improved access in rural areas. In the fiscal year 2023-24, domestic LPG consumers in India collectively took 184.56 crore refills out of which includes 39.38 crore refills were taken by PMUY consumers. Domestic LPG consumption

in the country has increased to 26.2 million metric tonnes (MMT) in FY 2023-24, up from 17.2

MMT in FY 2015-16. The consumption patterns among PMUY beneficiaries have shown a consistent upward trend. In October 2024 alone, over 4 crore LPG refills were delivered to PMUY beneficiaries, further underscoring the growing adoption and utilization of LPG within

this segment.

In order to improve access to LPG in rural areas in the country, various steps have been taken inter alia, including organizing campaigns for promotion of PMUY, organizing melas/camps to enroll and distribute connections, promotion through Out of Home (OOH) hoardings, radio jingles, Information, Education and Communication (IEC) Vans etc., spreading awareness about advantages of using LPG over other conventional fuels and safe usage of LPG through LPG Panchayats, enrolment/awareness camps under Viksit Bharat Sankalp Yatra, facilitation of consumers and their families for Aadhaar enrolment and opening of bank accounts for getting PMUY connections, simplification of process of getting LPG connection, online application for PMUY connection at www.pmuy.gov.in, nearest LPG distributors, Common Service Centres (CSC) etc., option of 5 Kg Double Bottle Connection (DBC), swap option from 14.2 Kg to 5 Kg,

provision for Migrant Families to avail new connection on Self-Declaration instead of Proof of

Address and Ration Card, upto 3 free refills to PMUY beneficiaries under Pradhan Mantri Garib

Kalyan Package from April 2020 to December 2020 etc.

Further, OMCs are continuously commissioning new LPG Distributorships, especially in rural areas. Since the launch of PMUY scheme, OMCs have commissioned 7944 Distributorships (commissioned during 01.04.2016 to 31.10.2024) across the country, out of which 7361 (i.e. 93 %) are catering to rural areas. As of November 1, 2024, there are a total of 25,532 LPG distributorships across the country, an increase from 17,916 distributorships as of April 1, 2016.

Comprehensive Annual Modular Survey (CAMS) 2022-23, was conducted under the aegis of Ministry of Statistics and Program Implementation by National Sample Survey (NSS) 79^th round, between July 2022 and June 2023.One of the parameters reported in the survey pertains to the primary source of energy used for cooking within households. It defines the primary source of energy for cooking as an energy source that a household used the majority of the time for cooking.

Various studies have shown that many Indian households use multiple fuels for cooking, a phenomena commonly referred to as fuel stacking. In the case of PMUY households, LPG is one

of the fuels used for cooking. Extent of LPG usage in the households is influenced by variety of

factors such as cooking preferences, tastes, seasons, cuisine types, food flavours, traditions, cost etc. Adoption of LPG as the primary source of energy for cooking for majority of time accordingly involves behavioural change and takes time. The steadily rising consumption of domestic LPG by PMUY consumers indicative of growing acceptance of LPG by rural households, who comprise over 80% of PMUY consumers. Per Capita Consumption of PMUY households has increased from 3.01 refills (in terms of 14.2 Kg domestic LPG cylinders) in 2019-20 to 3.95 in 2023-24 to 4.34(onannualised basis) in 2024-25, upto October 2024.

Government modulates the retail prices of Domestic LPG and has been taking steps to ensure affordability of Domestic LPG in the country. In this direction, Government reduced the retail selling price of domestic LPG for all consumers by Rs. 200 per 14.2 Kg LPG cylinder with effect from 30th August, 2023. Government further reduced the RSP of domestic LPG by Rs. 100 per 14.2 Kg cylinder w.e.f. 9th March, 2024. The current RSP of domestic LPG at Delhi is Rs. 803 per 14.2 Kg cylinder.

W.e.f. 21st May, 2022, Government has been providing a targeted subsidy of Rs. 200 per 14.2 Kg LPG cylinder for Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana (PMUY) beneficiaries for upto 12 refills a year. Moreover, w.e.f. 5th October, 2023, Government increased the targeted subsidy to Rs. 300 per 14.2 Kg LPG cylinder for all Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana (PMUY) beneficiaries. With a targeted subsidy of Rs. 300 per cylinder (and proportionately prorated for 5 Kg cylinder), effective cost for PMUY consumers is Rs. 503 per 14.2 Kg cylinder (at Delhi) currently.

This information was given by THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF PETROLEUM AND NATURAL GAS SHRI SURESH GOPI, in a written reply in Rajya Sabha today

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