Parliament Question: Domestic LPG cylinder connections under the PMUY, Tamil Nadu

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF PETROLEUM AND NATURAL GAS RAJYA SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.-1090 ANSWERED ON- 09/02/2026 DOMESTIC LPG CYLINDER CONNECTIONS UNDER THE PMUY, TAMIL NADU 1090 SHRI R. GIRIRAJAN: Will the Minister of PETROLEUM AND NATURAL GAS be pleased to state: - (a) the total number of beneficiaries provided with gas connections under the Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana (PMUY) across the country including the State of Tamil Nadu along with the number of connections provided to the persons belonging to SC, ST and Other Backward Category till 31st December, 2025; (b) the total number of Domestic Gas Distribution networks available across the country, State-wise, with particular reference to the State along with the number of distribution networks available in urban and rural areas; and (c) whether Government takes stringent measures to curb corrupt practices by LPG distributors using the cylinders supplied under PMUY? ANSWER THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF PETROLEUM AND NATURAL GAS (SHRI SURESH GOPI) (a): 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. As on 01.01.2026, there were about 10.43 crore PMUY connections(including 3.14 crore connections under SC/ST category) across the country,out of which, 41.50 lakh (including 12.75 lakh connections under SC/ST category) in the State of Tamil Nadu.The details of Other Backward Classes (OBCs) beneficiaries are not captured/maintained separately. (b): As on 01.01.2026, there are a total of 25,596 LPG distributorships operating across the country, out of which 17,668 distributorships are serving rural areas. These are served through 214 LPG bottling plants of Oil Marketing Companies (OMCs) located across the country. In order to improve access of LPG in rural and remote areas, OMCs have commissioned 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. State-wise details of number of LPG distributorship including Tamil Nadu alongwiththe number of distributorship available in urban and rural areas are at Annexure-A.(c): Government continues to take measures on ongoing basis to monitor usage pattern and prevent misuse of PMUY connections ensuring that LPG distribution and subsidy transfers in respect of domestic LPG consumers are efficient, transparent, and inclusive. Implementation of PAHAL (DBTL) scheme coupled with initiatives like Aadhaar-based verification, biometric authentication, deduplication and weeding out of ineligible or duplicate connections have significantly strengthened the system of transfers of targeted subsidies. PAHAL has played a crucial role in identification and blocking of ‘ghost’ accounts, multiple accounts, and inactive LPG connections, thereby helping curb the diversion of subsidised LPG for commercial use. As of 01.01.2026, 4.05 crore duplicate, fake/non-existent, and inactive LPG connections are blocked/suspended/deactivated. Government has taken numerous other steps to remove ineligible consumers and improve subsidy transfer process, which includede-duplication through CLDP, Biometric Aadhaar Authentication and weeding out of ineligible/inactive consumers. In order to regulate distribution of LPG, the Government has notified “Liquefied Petroleum Gas (Regulation of Supply and Distribution) Order, 2000. Additionally, OMCs have formulated “Marketing Discipline Guidelines” to be adhered to by LPG Distributors. These guidelines also provide for penal action against LPG distributors indulging in any malpractice. In all established cases of irregularities by LPG distributors in marketing of LPG, action is taken as per provisions of Marketing Discipline Guidelines / Distributorship Agreement. To ensure compliance and curb malpractices, both regular and surprise Inspections of LPG distributors are done by Field Officers of the OMCs. Also, officers from Regional Offices/ Zonal Offices/ Divisional Offices/ Territory Offices and officials from Anti Adulteration Cell/ Quality Reassurance Cells and Vigilance Department conduct random checks at Distributors’ Godown/ Showroom/delivery points, as well as en-route to ensure that no misuse of LPG takes place. *********Annexure-A Annexure referred to part (b) of Rajya Sabha Unstarred Question No. 1090 to be answered on 09.02.2026 regarding “Domestic LPG cylinder connections under the PMUY, Tamil Nadu”. State-wise, details of number of LPG distributorship (As on 01.01.2026) Category-wise count of Distributors STATE/UT DurgamKshetriyaVit SheheriVitrak RurbanVitrak GraminVitrak TOTAL rak CHANDIGARH 26 0 0 0 26 DELHI 318 0 0 0 318 HARYANA 282 103 233 9 627 HIMACHAL PRADESH 69 14 91 37 211 JAMMU & KASHMIR 126 47 78 49 300 and LADAKH PUNJAB 334 258 250 21 863 RAJASTHAN 434 164 656 134 1388 UTTAR PRADESH 1007 709 2307 122 4145 UTTARAKHAND 113 104 59 40 316 ANDAMAN & 0 4 5 1 10 NICOBAR ISLANDS ARUNACHAL 6 6 33 40 85 PRADESH ASSAM 129 101 308 66 604 BIHAR 240 252 1502 38 2032 JHARKHAND 163 52 357 20 592 MANIPUR 15 13 36 40 104 MEGHALAYA 21 9 19 17 66 MIZORAM 11 6 26 16 59 NAGALAND 15 11 17 41 84 ODISHA 173 100 579 114 966 SIKKIM 9 1 9 10 29 TRIPURA 18 8 49 14 89 WEST BENGAL 405 164 963 74 1606 CHHATTISGARH 105 75 172 183 535 DADRA & NAGAR HAVELI and DAMAN & 5 1 2 0 8 DIU GOA 44 4 5 2 55 GUJARAT 421 120 488 13 1042 MADHYA PRADESH 472 210 485 385 1552 MAHARASHTRA 1011 192 845 193 2241 ANDHRA PRADESH 324 303 430 107 1164 KARNATAKA 535 139 552 53 1279 KERALA 224 136 321 22 703 LAKSHADWEEP 1 0 0 0 1 PUDUCHERRY 15 12 3 0 30 TAMIL NADU 566 364 615 110 1655 TELANGANA 291 105 335 80 811 Source: IOCL on behalf of PSU OMCs