Context:

• The Union Cabinet has approved a targeted subsidy for beneficiaries under the Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana (PMUY) for FY 2025-26. Beneficiaries will receive a subsidy of ₹300 per refill on 14.2 kg cylinders, up to 9 refills per year (proportionally for 5 kg cylinder users).

Key Points:

• Total estimated expenditure on this scheme is ₹12,000 crore, which will be directly transferred to the beneficiaries’ bank accounts.

Targeted Subsidy for PMUY Consumers:

• India imports about 60% of its LPG requirement.
• Due to sharp fluctuations in international LPG prices, the government started a targeted subsidy in May 2022 for PMUY consumers: ₹200 per 14.2 kg cylinder for up to 12 refills per year (proportionally for 5 kg cylinders).
• In October 2023, this targeted subsidy was increased to ₹300 per 14.2 kg cylinder for up to 12 refills per year (proportionally for 5 kg cylinders).

Improvement in LPG Consumption by PMUY Families:

• The average per capita consumption (PCC) of LPG by PMUY consumers was only 3 refills in 2019-20, which increased to 3.68 refills in 2022-23, and further rose to approximately 4.47 refills during FY 2024-25.

Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana (PMUY)

• Type: Major social welfare scheme of the Government of India
• Launch: May 2016
• Objective: To provide clean cooking fuel (LPG) to women (including those from BPL families) through free LPG connections, improving their health and living standards.
• Beneficiaries: Women from poor families, especially in rural areas.
• Nodal Ministry: Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas
• Coverage: All States and Union Territories of India
• Target: Initially to provide free LPG connections to 5 crore BPL families; later under Ujjwala 2.0, an additional 1 crore connections.
• Financial Support: ₹1,600 per connection (includes security deposit, regulator, hose pipe, installation). Under Ujjwala 2.0, the first refill and stove are provided free.

Major Social Security Schemes of Government of India