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GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF PETROLEUM AND NATURAL GAS
RAJYA SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO - 3494
ANSWERED ON - 23/03/2026
EXPANSION OF LPG COVERAGE UNDER PMUY IN MAHARASHTRA AND GUJARAT
3494 DR. MEDHA VISHRAM KULKARNI:
Will the Minister of PETROLEUM AND NATURAL GAS be pleased to state:
(a) whether Government has expanded LPG coverage under the Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala
Yojana (PMUY) during 2025-26 in the States of Maharashtra and Gujarat;
(b) if so, the number of new LPG connections provided and the present level of LPG
coverage in rural and urban areas of these States;
(c) whether the Saksham 2025-26 campaign was conducted to promote fuel conservation and
efficient energy usage; and
(d) if so, the outcomes thereof and the steps taken by Government to further expand access to
clean cooking fuel?
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. As on
01.03.2026, there were about 10.56 crore PMUY connections across the country including
52.60 lakh connections in the state of Maharashtra and 43.92 lakh connections in the state of
Gujarat.
(b) to (d): Government has recently approved the release of 25 lakh additional LPG
connections under PMUY during Financial Year 2025-26 to clear pending applications and
achieve saturation of LPG access in the country. As on 01.03.2026, under this extension,
around 0.48 lakh LPG connections have been released in Maharashtra and around 0.87 lakh
LPG connections have been released in Gujarat.
Prior to the launch of Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana (PMUY), LPG coverage in the country
was about 62%. With the implementation of PMUY, near-universal LPG coverage has now
been achieved. Further, Per Connection Consumption (in terms of no. of 14.2 kg LPG
cylinders taken per year) of PMUY beneficiaries (more than 80% of which comprise rural
households) has increased from 3.68 in FY 2021-22 to 4.80 refills in FY 2025-26 (Prorated
based on consumption during Apr-25 to Feb-26).
Oil Marketing Companies (OMCs) have immensely improved the distribution infrastructure
for domestic LPG. As of 01.03.2026, there are 25,605 LPG distributorships in India,
including 17,677 in rural areas, serving by 214 LPG bottling plants of Oil Marketing
Companies (OMCs). To improve LPG access in rural and remote areas, 8,037 distributorships
were commissioned between April 2016 and February 2026, of which 7,444 (93%) serve ruralregions. Details of No. of LPG distributorships serving in Urban and Rural areas in the state
of Maharashtra and Gujarat are given below:
State Distributors serving in Urban area Distributors serving in Rural area Total
Maharashtra 421 621 1042
Gujarat 1010 1230 2240
Source: IOCL on behalf of PSU OMCs
To make LPG more affordable to PMUY consumers and ensure sustained usage of LPG by
PMUY consumers, 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.
Saksham is the annual flagship programme of Oil Industry Public Sector Undertakings
(PSUs), aimed at promoting energy conservation and sustainability among the public. During
the period from 1st to 15th February 2026, the programme was observed across the country
with the theme “Conserve Oil & Gas, Go Green.”
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