Parliament Question: LPG connections provided under PMUY

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF PETROLEUM AND NATURAL GAS RAJYA SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.- 1896 ANSWERED ON- 09/03/2026 LPG CONNECTIONS PROVIDED UNDER PMUY 1896 SHRI RATANJIT PRATAP NARAIN SINGH:

Will the Minister of PETROLEUM AND NATURAL GAS be pleased to state:-

(a) the number of LPG connections provided under Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana (PMUY) since its inception and their current refill rate, year-wise;

(b) the steps taken to ensure sustained usage of LPG by economically weaker households and any data on households reverting to solid fuels;

(c) the FDI inflows into the Oil and Gas sector between 2020 and 2025, including top contributing countries; and

(d) the Ministry’s plans for expanding clean energy access through LPG and other fuels in under-served regions? ANSWER THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF PETROLEUM AND NATURAL GAS (SHRI SURESH GOPI)

(a)&(b): 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 01.02.2026, there were about 10.51 crore PMUY connections across the country. Year-wise details of number of connections released under PMUY are at Annexure-A.

Average Per Connection Consumption of PMUY beneficiaries during the last five years, in terms of number of 14.2 Kg refills taken per year per household, are as follows:

Per Connection consumption (in terms of FY

14.2 Kg refills/consumer/Year) 2021-22 3.68 2022-23 3.71 2023-24 3.95 2024-25 4.47 2025-26 (Prorated based on consumption during Apr’25-Jan’26) 4.83

Source: IOCL on behalf of PSU OMCsGovernment monitors LPG consumption through reports/MIS/consumption profile through PPAC/OMCs. Additionally, various independent studies and reports have shown that PMUY scheme has had a significant positive impact on the lives of rural households, especially women and families in rural and remote areas. PMUY had resulted in a shift from traditional cooking methods that involve burning solid fuels like wood, dung and crop residues. The use of cleaner fuel lowers indoor air pollution, leading to improved respiratory health, particularly among women and children who are traditionally more exposed to household smoke.

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 ₹ 200/- per 14.2 kg cylinder (and proportionately pro-rated for 5 Kg connections) to the PMUY consumers which was subsequently increased to ₹ 300/- per 14.2 kg cylinder (and proportionately pro-rated for 5 Kg connections).

For FY 2025-26, the Government is providing a targeted subsidy of ₹ 300/- per cylinder for upto 9 refills of 14.2 Kg cylinders per annum (proportionately pro-rated for 5 Kg connections).

(c): The Government has progressively liberalized FDI policies across sectors between 2019 and 2024. To promote Foreign Direct Investment (FDI), the Government has put in place an investor-friendly policy, wherein the Petroleum &Natural Gas sector is open for 100% FDI under the automatic route without Government approval. In 2021, Oil & Gas PSUs in the petroleum and natural gas sector were opened for FDI.

FDI inflow in Petroleum & Natural Gas Sector from January 2000 to September 2025 is USD

8326.89 million, corresponding INR 44867.05crore. (Source: DPIIT FDI Statistics)

(d): 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. As of February 01, 2026, there are a total of 25,600 LPG distributorships across the country, out of which 17,675 are serving in rural areas.

Providing Piped Natural Gas (PNG) connections and establishment of Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) stations are part of development of City Gas Distribution (CGD) Networks.The same is carried out by the entities authorized by the Petroleum and Natural Gas Regulatory Board (PNGRB) as per their Minimum Work Programme (MWP). PNGRB has authorized entities for development of CGD network in 307 Geographical Areas (GAs), covering the entire mainland area for the development of CGD network across the country, including rural and backward areas. The expansion of CGD network is a continuous process. PNGRB has authorized 43 GAs for development of CGD network.

*********Annexure-A Annexure referred to part (a) &(b) of Rajya Sabha Unstarred Question No. 1896 to be answered on 09.03.2026 regarding “LPG connections provided under PMUY” asked by Shri

Ratanjit Pratap Narain Singh:

Year-wise, no. of LPG Connections released under PMUY (FY 2016-17 to FY 2025-26) Financial Year Number of connections released (in lakh) 2016-17 200.32 2017-18 155.72 2018-19 362.94 2019-20 82.65 2021-22 100.00 2022-23 60.00 2023-24 74.18 2024-25 0.92 2025-26(Apr- 25 to Jan-

26) 18.41

Note: No PMUY connection was released in 2020-21.

Source: IOCL on behalf of PSU OMCs