**Executive Summary**
This document is an answer to Unstarred Question No. 1041 in the Lok Sabha, scheduled for February 5th, 2026, regarding the availability of LPG agencies in rural areas, specifically within the Ratlam Parliamentary Constituency. The Minister of State in the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas provides details on the appointment of LPG distributorships, the application process, and the measures taken to improve LPG access and delivery in rural areas. The response indicates a simplified online application process and ongoing efforts to enhance last-mile delivery through various initiatives.
**Key Points / Main Content**
* **LPG Distributorship Appointment:**
* Public Sector Oil Marketing Companies (OMCs) continuously appoint LPG distributorships based on Unified Selection Guidelines (USG)-2016.
* Locations for new distributorships are identified and advertised according to USG-2016.
* **Application Process:**
* The application process for LPG distributorship is simplified and transparent, conducted online via [https://www.lpgvitarakchayan.in](https://www.lpgvitarakchayan.in).
* The online process includes application receipt, processing, and online draws.
* Detailed guidelines regarding eligibility, infrastructure requirements (land, godown, showroom, home delivery), and the selection process are available at [www.lpgvitrakchayan.in](http://www.lpgvitrakchayan.in).
* **LPG Availability and Distribution:**
* As of January 1, 2026, there are 25,596 LPG distributorships across the country, with 17,668 serving rural areas.
* From April 1, 2016, to December 31, 2025, OMCs commissioned 8,027 distributorships, with 7,434 (93%) catering to rural areas.
* To improve last-mile delivery, OMCs have commissioned new distributorships, appointed Common Service Center - Village Level Entrepreneurs (CSC VLEs), and use modern technology for order booking and payments.
* **Ratlam Parliamentary Constituency:**
* The constituency (Ratlam, Jhabua, and Alirajpur districts) is served by 68 LPG distributors of Public Sector OMCs, including 58 rural (Rurban, Gramin & Durgam Kshetriya Vitrak (DKV)) distributors.
* OMCs have advertised two new Durgam Kshetriya Vitrak (DKV) distributorships, one each in Alirajpur (IOCL) and Jhabua (BPCL).
* OMCs have engaged 61 CSC-VLEs in these districts to improve last-mile delivery, resulting in an average refill delivery time of less than 1.5 days.
**Impact Analysis**
**Stakeholder: Citizens/Consumers in Rural, Tribal, and Remote Areas of the Ratlam Parliamentary Constituency**
* **Impact:**
* Improved access to LPG connections, timely refilling, and distribution due to the ongoing efforts of OMCs to commission new distributorships and enhance last-mile delivery.
* Simplified and transparent online application process for LPG distributorships.
* Faster refill delivery times due to engagement of CSC-VLEs.
* **Action Required:**
* If facing difficulties in obtaining gas connections or refills, consumers should utilize available distributorships and CSC-VLE services.
**Stakeholder: Prospective LPG Distributorship Applicants**
* **Impact:**
* A simplified and transparent online application process.
* Clear guidelines on eligibility criteria, infrastructure requirements, and the selection process.
* **Action Required:**
* Submit applications online via the specified portal, ensuring adherence to the outlined guidelines.
**Stakeholder: Public Sector Oil Marketing Companies (OMCs)**
* **Impact:**
* Continuing responsibility to identify and establish new LPG distributorships based on the Unified Selection Guidelines (USG)-2016.
* Requirement to engage in ongoing efforts to improve last-mile delivery and customer service in rural areas.
* Expected to maintain transparency in the selection process.
* **Action Required:**
* Continue to appoint LPG distributorships based on USG-2016 and engage CSC-VLEs to improve last-mile delivery.
Key Entities Referenced
Public Sector Oil Marketing Companies (OMCs): Entities responsible for appointing LPG distributorships and improving last-mile delivery.
Unified Selection Guidelines for LPG distributorships (USG)-2016: Guidelines used to identify and advertise locations for setting up LPG distributorships.
Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas: The ministry to whom the question about LPG agencies is addressed.
Ratlam Parliamentary Constituency: The specific geographic area of concern regarding the availability of LPG agencies.
lpgvitarakchayan.in: The online portal for applying for LPG distributorships.
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1041
TO BE ANSWERED ON 05th February, 2026
Availability of LPG Agency in Rural Areas
†1041. Smt. Anita Nagarsingh Chouhan:
पे(cid:367)ोिलयम एवं (cid:255)ाकृितक गैस मं(cid:253)ी
Will the Minister of PETROLEUM AND NATURAL GAS be pleased to state:
(a) whether the number of Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) agencies in the rural, tribal and
remote areas of the Ratlam Parliamentary Constituency is inadequate resulting in serious
difficulties for consumers in obtaining gas connections, timely refilling and distribution, if so, the
details thereof;
(b) whether the Government has conducted any survey, site selection or prepared any proposal
for approval of new LPG agencies or expansion of existing agencies in the said Constituency, if
so, the details thereof; and
(c) whether the Government proposes to approve new LPG agencies promptly, keeping in view
the population, geographical location and consumer demand in the area, if so, the likely
timeframe thereof?
ANSWER
पे(cid:282)ो(cid:871)लयम एवं (cid:292)ाकृ(cid:467)तक गैस मं(cid:287)ालय म(cid:581) रा(cid:207)यमं(cid:287)ी
((cid:302)ी सुरेश गोपी)
MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF PETROLEUM AND NATURAL GAS
(SHRI SURESH GOPI)
(a) to (c):- Appointment of LPG distributorships by the Public Sector Oil Marketing Companies
(OMCs) is a continuous process and locations for setting up of LPG distributorships are
identified and advertised as per Unified Selection Guidelines for LPG distributorships (USG)-
2016.
The process of applying for LPG distributorship has been simplified and a transparent online
selection process is in place. All applicants are required to submit their application on web-based
portal https://www.lpgvitarakchayan.in. The online selection process includes, online receipt of
application, processing and online draw of lots etc. Detailed guidelines on eligibility,
infrastructure requirement of land for LPG godown, approach road for godown, Showroom,
infrastructure for home delivery of LPG cylinders etc. along with the details of selection process
are given at www.lpgvitrakchayan.in.As of January 01, 2026, there are a total of 25,596 LPG distributorships across the country, out
of which 17,668 are serving rural areas. In order to improve access of LPG in rural and remote
areas, OMCs have commissioned a total of 8,027 distributorships, during 01.04.2016 to
31.12.2025 across the country, out of which 7,434 (i.e. 93 %) are catering to rural areas.
To further improve last-mile delivery in remote and underserved habitations, OMCs have taken
several measures, including commissioning of new distributorships, appointment of Common
Service Center - Village Level Entrepreneur (CSC VLEs), use of modern technology tools for
order booking and payments.
Ratlam Parliamentary Constituency covers Ratlam, Jhabua & Alirajpur districts and is served by
a total of 68 LPG distributors of Public Sector Oil Marketing Companies (OMCs) including 58
rural (Rurban, Gramin & Durgam Kshetriya Vitrak (DKV)) distributors. Further, OMCs have
advertised two new LPG distributorships, the details of which are as under:
Oil Marketing
District Type of LPG Distributorship
Company
Sr. No.
1 Alirajpur Durgam Kshetriya Vitrak (DKV) IOCL
2 Jhabua Durgam Kshetriya Vitrak (DKV) BPCL
Source: IOCL on behalf of PSU OMCs
To improve last mile delivery in these districts, OMCs have also engaged 61 numbers of CSC-
VLEs (Common Service Centre – Village Level Entrepreneur), etc. As a result of these efforts,
the average refill delivery time in thesedistricts is less than 1.5 days.
********