The Center has reduced the annual subsidized LPG cylinder quota under the Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana (PMUY) from nine to four per year, citing average household consumption patterns.
The latest developments come after oil marketing companies increased the price of a 14.2-kg domestic LPG cylinder by Rs 29, pushing up household fuel costs across major cities.
At the same time, the government has revised the annual subsidy entitlement for PMUY beneficiaries, reducing the number of subsidized cylinders available each year.
The move is aimed at aligning subsidy support with average household consumption patterns, according to government officials. While eligible beneficiaries will continue to receive a subsidy of Rs 300 per cylinder, the reduced quota means fewer subsidized refills will be available annually.
The government has reduced the number of subsidized LPG cylinders available annually to beneficiaries of the Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana (PMUY), lowering the entitlement from nine cylinders to four.
Under the scheme launched in May 2016, eligible households initially received subsidies on up to 12 cylinders a year. The quota was reduced to nine cylinders last year and has now been cut further to four.
Speaking at a media briefing, Petroleum and Natural Gas Ministry Additional Secretary Praveen Mal Khanooja said the revised entitlement broadly reflects the average annual consumption pattern of PMUY households.
The government will continue to provide a targeted subsidy of Rs 300 on every 14.2-kg LPG cylinder purchased by PMUY beneficiaries. The subsidy amount will continue to be credited directly to beneficiaries’ bank accounts after each refill purchase.
The reduction in subsidy entitlement comes shortly after oil marketing companies increased domestic LPG cylinder prices by Rs 29 on June 7. The latest revision follows another hike earlier this year, taking the cumulative increase in Delhi to Rs 89 over the past three months.
Following the latest revision, the retail price of a 14.2-kg domestic LPG cylinder in Delhi has risen to Rs 942.
For PMUY beneficiaries, the effective cost after accounting for the Rs 300 subsidy works out to Rs 642 per cylinder.
According to Khanooja, beneficiaries effectively receive support of around Rs 1,000 per cylinder compared with the government’s estimated supply cost of nearly Rs 1,600 per cylinder.
Defending the recent increase, he stated that the Rs 29 price revision translates to roughly Rs 1 per day and about 20 paise per day for each member of a five-member household.
The latest retail prices for a 14.2-kg domestic LPG cylinder across key Indian cities are as follows:
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Domestic LPG cylinder prices differ across locations due to several factors that influence the final retail cost.
These include state and local taxes, transportation and freight expenses, distribution costs, and regional pricing adjustments implemented by oil marketing companies.
As a result, consumers in different cities may pay varying prices even when a nationwide LPG price revision is announced.
The latest developments mean households are facing both higher refill costs and a reduction in the number of subsidized cylinders available under the PMUY scheme.
While PMUY beneficiaries will continue to receive a subsidy of Rs 300 per cylinder, the benefit will now be available for only four cylinders annually instead of nine.
Consumers planning a refill are advised to check the latest applicable LPG price with their distributor before placing an order.
The Center’s decision to reduce the annual subsidized LPG cylinder quota under PMUY comes alongside a recent increase in domestic cooking gas prices.
While the government maintains that the revised entitlement reflects actual consumption patterns, beneficiaries will now receive subsidized support for fewer cylinders each year, increasing the importance of managing household fuel expenses.
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