The Centre has further reduced the number of subsidised LPG cylinders available to 105 million poor households of the Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana (PMUY), bringing the annual quota down from nine cylinders to four.

Officials said the decision was taken after reviewing the average LPG consumption of Ujjwala households across the country.

As per a statement issued by the Union cabinet on August 8, 2025, average per capita consumption of PMUY consumers, which was only about three refills in 2019-20 and 3.68 refills in 2022-23, improved to about 4.47 in 2024-25.

Another aspect of reducing the number

According to sources, this decision has been taken to prevent misuse of the scheme and stop the diversion of subsidised cylinders meant for beneficiaries.

Government sources said investigations revealed that some people were allegedly diverting subsidised LPG cylinders obtained under the Ujjwala scheme for commercial purposes.

Can consumers  still buy additional cylinders?

Sources clarified that consumers will continue to be free to obtain as many cylinders as they require throughout the year. The decision does not restrict the number of LPG cylinders that Ujjwala beneficiaries can purchase. However, the subsidy amount credited to their bank accounts will now be limited to the first four refills.

About PMUY

In May 2016, Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas (MOPNG), introduced the ‘Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana’ (PMUY) as a flagship scheme with an objective to make clean cooking fuel such as LPG available to the rural and deprived households which were otherwise using traditional cooking fuels such as firewood, coal, cow-dung cakes etc.

When the scheme was launched, beneficiaries were entitled to 12 subsidised cylinders a year. The quota was later cut to nine cylinders and has now been reduced again to four.

Praveen Mal Khanooja's Statement

Additional Secretary in the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas, Praveen Mal Khanooja, said 

the revised limit broadly reflects the average yearly gas usage of Ujjwala beneficiaries.

He also noted that oil marketing companies are still bearing a loss of about ₹700 on each LPG cylinder sold.

 

"The Centre has further reduced the number of subsidised LPG cylinders available to 105 million poor households of the Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala…"