Government Slashes Subsidised LPG Quota to Four Refills Under Ujjwala Scheme

The government has officially reduced the annual quota of subsidised LPG cylinders for beneficiaries of the Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana (PMUY) to four. While a subsidy of ₹300 per cylinder remains in place, this adjustment aligns federal support with average household consumption data. This change marks a significant recalibration from the previous provision, which had allowed for a higher number of subsidised refills.

Union Minister Pralhad Joshi noted that the rise in international LPG prices, fueled by supply chain disruptions in West Asia, has made periodic price hikes inevitable. Despite these adjustments, the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas maintains that Indian consumers continue to pay among the lowest rates for cooking gas globally. The government has also diversified supply sources, securing shipments from the US, Canada, and Algeria to prevent domestic shortages during the ongoing global volatility.

The news of the subsidy cap reduction has prompted localized protests, including a demonstration where firewood stoves were used to underscore concerns over rising living costs. The PMUY initiative, which has provided over 10.55 crore connections since 2016, remains a flagship welfare program. Officials emphasize that the focus remains on ensuring supply security, even as fiscal policies are adjusted to manage the mounting burden of fuel subsidies.