Parliament Question: LPG price hike

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF PETROLEUM AND NATURAL GAS RAJYA SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO - 4137 ANSWERED ON - 30/03/2026 LPG PRICE HIKE 4137 SMT. RAJATHI: Will the Minister of PETROLEUM AND NATURAL GAS be pleased to state: (a) whether Government is aware that the recent hike of ₹60 per domestic LPG cylinder on 7th March, 2026 has disproportionately affected women in rural and low-income households; (b) whether Government has commissioned any study to understand the correlation between rising LPG prices and the return of women to traditional fuels; (c) whether Government has received representations regarding the health hazards faced by women due to fuel switching back to solid fuels following recent price increases; and (d) the specific steps Government is taking to shield Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana (PMUY) beneficiaries from global price volatility caused by the West Asia conflict? ANSWER THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF PETROLEUM AND NATURAL GAS (SHRI SURESH GOPI) (a) to (d) India imports about 60% of its LPG requirement and accordingly prices of LPG in the country are linked to its prices in the international market. While prices of commercial LPG are set by LPG marketing companies independently, Government continues to modulate the effective price to consumer for domestic LPG. While the average Saudi CP (international benchmark for LPG pricing) rose by 41% (from US$ 385/MT in July 2023 to US$ 542/MT in February 2026) along with exchange rate, the prices of domestic LPG were reduced by about 17% (from Rs. 1103 in August 2023 to Rs. 913 in March 2026). For PMUY consumers, effective price for domestic LPG has been reduced by about 32% (from Rs. 903 in August 2023 to Rs. 613 in March 2026). The Retail Selling Price (RSP) of a 14.2 Kg domestic LPG cylinder is currently Rs. 913 in Delhi. After a targeted subsidy of Rs. 300/cylinder to PMUY consumers, Government of India is providing 14.2 Kg LPG cylinders at an effective price of Rs. 613 per cylinder (in Delhi) to all eligible PMUY beneficiaries. There were 46.22 crore refills by PMUY beneficiaries in FY 2024- 25 with per capita consumption of 4.47.Government has paid a compensation of Rs. 22,000 crore to OMCs in FY 2022-23 and has approved another compensation of Rs. 30,000 crore in FY 2025-26 for under-recoveries incurred on sale of domestic LPG. Effective price of domestic LPG cylinder in neighbouring countries as on 01.03.2026 is as below: Country Domestic LPG (Rs./14.2 kg.cyl.) India 613.00#* Pakistan 1046.34 Sri Lanka 1241.67 Nepal 1207.81 #Effective 7th March'2026 *Effective cost to PMUY beneficiaries in Delhi, effective cost is Rs. 913 for non-PMUY consumers Source: Petroleum Planning and Analysis Cell (PPAC) *****