**Executive Summary**
This document answers Unstarred Question No. 694 in Lok Sabha, concerning the decline in household LPG usage. The Minister of State in the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas addresses concerns raised regarding decreased LPG usage and alternative measures to prevent a return to polluting fuels. The information is to be provided on December 4, 2025.
**Key Points / Main Content**
* **Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana (PMUY)**
* Launched in May 2016 to provide deposit-free LPG connections to adult women from poor households.
* **LPG Usage and Consumption**
* There is no decline in household LPG usage; domestic LPG consumption is steadily rising.
* Domestic LPG consumption increased from 26207 MMT in FY2023-24 to 27654 MMT in FY2024-25.
* Per capita consumption of domestic LPG increased from 5.78 cylinders (14.2 kg) in FY2023-24 to 5.96 in FY2024-25 and 6.05 in FY 2025-26.
* **Affordability Measures**
* Government started a targeted subsidy of Rs.200/- per 14.2 kg cylinder for PMUY consumers in May 2022, increased to Rs. 300 in October 2023.
* LPG prices were reduced by Rs. 200 in August 2023 and Rs. 100 in March 2024 for all domestic LPG consumers.
* Subsidy of Rs.300/- per 14.2 kg cylinder (pro-rated for 5 Kg connections) is provided for upto 9 refills to PMUY consumers in FY 2025-26.
* **Awareness and Promotion**
* Various campaigns, melas, OOH hoardings, radio jingles, and IEC Vans are utilized to enhance LPG usage awareness.
* Efforts are made to spread awareness about the advantages of using LPG over conventional fuels through LPG Panchayats and Viksit Bharat Sankalp Yatra.
* **PMUY Beneficiary Consumption**
* Government is encouraging consumption of LPG by PMUY beneficiaries by providing a swap option from 14.2 kg to 5 kg to reduce upfront cash outgo, option of 5 kg double bottle connection, and conducting Pradhan Mantri LPG Panchayat.
* Per capita consumption of PMUY beneficiaries has increased from 3.68 in FY2021-22 to 4.47 in FY2024-25.
* **LPG Distributorships**
* As of 01.11.2025, there are 25,587 LPG distributorships across the country, including 1653 in Tamil Nadu, served through 214 LPG bottling plants (19 in Tamil Nadu).
* 8017 distributorships commissioned from 01.04.2016 to 31.10.2025, with 93% catering to rural areas.
* **LPG Coverage**
* LPG coverage in the country has improved from 62% in April 2016 to near saturation.
* LPG coverage in Tamil Nadu has increased from 80.8% in April 2016 to near saturation.
**Impact Analysis**
**PMUY Consumers**
* **Impact**: Improved access to affordable LPG through subsidies and various schemes, leading to increased consumption.
* **Action Required**: Continue to utilize LPG and participate in awareness programs to maximize benefits.
**General Public (All LPG Consumers)**
* **Impact**: Benefit from reduced LPG prices, ensuring greater affordability.
* **Action Required**: Be aware of the various schemes and subsidies available to them and utilize LPG as a primary cooking fuel.
**Rural Population**
* **Impact**: Enhanced access to LPG through increased distributorships in rural areas.
* **Action Required**: Engage with local distributorships and participate in awareness programs to promote the use of LPG.
**Oil Marketing Companies (OMCs)**
* **Impact**: Responsible for commissioning distributorships, operating bottling plants, and implementing government schemes.
* **Action Required**: Continue to expand LPG coverage, particularly in rural areas, and ensure the effective distribution of subsidized LPG.
Key Entities Referenced
Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana (PMUY): A scheme launched to provide deposit-free LPG connections to adult women from poor households.
Tamil Nadu: Indian state referenced for household LPG penetration figures.
Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas: The ministry responsible for answering questions about LPG usage and the Ujjwala Yojana.
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 694
TO BE ANSWERED ON 04thDecember, 2025
Decline in Household LPG Usage
694. Dr. T Sumathy Alias Thamizhachi Thangapandian:
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 Government is aware of reports indicating a decline in household LPG usage
after recent reductions in subsidy support and whether approximately three-quarters of
households still rely on LPG as primary cooking fuel, if so, the details thereof;
(b) the details of the latest figures for national and Tamil Nadu household LPG penetration and
trends during the last three years;
(c) the steps taken by the Government under the Ujjwala/targeted subsidy mechanisms to ensure
affordability of LPG cylinders for low income urban and rural households; and
(d) the alternative measures proposed to prevent a shift back to polluting fuels, especially where
firewood is costly or unavailable?
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 (d): Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana (PMUY) was launched in May, 2016 with an objective
to provide deposit free LPG connection to adult women from poor households across the
country. There is no decline in household LPG usage. Domestic LPG consumption has been
steadily rising as a result of various schemes and programmes by the Government. Domestic
LPG consumption has increased from 26207 MMT in FY2023-24 to 27654 MMT in FY2024-25
at aggregate level. At household level the per capita consumption of Domestic LPG (in terms of14.2 kg domestic LPG cylinders taken per year) in India has increased from 5.78 in FY 2023-24
to 5.96 in FY 2024-25 and 6.05 during FY 2025-26.
To make LPG more affordable to PMUY consumers and ensure sustained usage of LPG by them,
in May 2022 Government started a targeted subsidy of Rs.200/- per 14.2 kg cylinder (and
proportionately pro-rated for 5 Kg connections) to the PMUY consumers. LPG prices were
reduced by Rs. 200 in August, 2023 and Rs. 100 in March, 2024 for all domestic LPG
consumers. In October 2023, Government increased the targeted subsidy to Rs.300 per 14.2 kg
cylinder (and proportionately pro-rated for 5 Kg connections). For FY 2025-26, Government is
providing targeted subsidy of Rs.300/- per 14.2 kg cylinder for upto 9 refills of 14.2 Kg cylinder
(and proportionately pro-rated for 5 Kg connections) to the PMUY consumers.
Further, to create awareness and enhance LPG usage, various steps have been taken inter alia,
including organizing campaigns, organizing melas/camps to enroll and distribute connections,
promotion through Out of Home (OOH) hoardings, radio jingles, Information, Education and
Communication (IEC) Vans etc., spreading awareness about advantages of using LPG over other
conventional fuels and safe usage of LPG through LPG Panchayats, enrolment/awareness camps
under Viksit Bharat Sankalp Yatra, facilitation of consumers and their families for Aadhaar
enrolment and opening of bank accounts for getting PMUY connections. Government has taken
several steps to encourage consumption of LPG by PMUY beneficiaries, Swap option from 14.2
kg to 5 Kg to reduce upfront cash outgo, option of 5 Kg Double Bottle Connection, Conducting
Pradhan Mantri LPG Panchayat to convince the beneficiaries to use LPG on sustained basis,
mass awareness camps etc. As a result of these efforts, per capita consumption of PMUY
beneficiaries (in terms of no. of 14.2 kg LPG cylinders taken per year) has increased from 3.68
(FY 2021-22) to 4.47 in FY 2024-25.
As of 01.11.2025, there are a total of 25,587 LPG distributorships across the country, including
1653 in state of Tamil Nadu. These are served through 214 LPG bottling plant of Oil Marketing
Companies (OMCs) located across the country including 19 in Tamil Nadu. In order to improve
access of LPG in rural and remote areas, OMCs have commissioned 8017 distributorships,
during 01.04.2016 to 31.10.2025 across the country, out of which 7420 (i.e. 93 %) are catering to
rural areas. As a result of these efforts, LPG coverage in the country has improved from 62% in
April 2016 to near saturation now. Similarily, LPG coverage in Tamil Naduhas also increased
from 80.8% in April 2016 to near saturation now.
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