All subsidy figures, refill limits, and beneficiary counts below are taken directly from Cabinet-approved press releases (PIB) and official government briefings. Sources and the official portal link are provided at the end so you can verify everything yourself.
| Parameter | Details |
|---|---|
| Full Scheme Name | Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana (PMUY) |
| Current Phase | Ujjwala 2.0 |
| Launched On | 1 May 2016 |
| Launched At | Ballia, Uttar Pradesh |
| Launched By | Prime Minister Narendra Modi |
| Ministry | Ministry of Petroleum & Natural Gas |
| Tagline | “Swachh Indhan, Behtar Jeevan” (Clean Fuel, Better Life) |
| Who Can Apply | Adult women (18+) from eligible low-income households without an existing LPG connection |
| Connection Cost | Free (deposit-free connection, first refill and stove also free) |
| Refill Subsidy | ₹300 per 14.2 kg cylinder, up to 9 refills/year (FY 2025-26) |
| Total Connections (as of 2026) | Over 10.5 crore |
| Official Website | pmuy.gov.in |
Table of Contents
- What Is PMUY?
- Objectives of the Scheme
- Key Features & Benefits
- Subsidy Amount: How It Has Changed
- Growth of PMUY Since 2016
- Eligibility Criteria
- Documents Required
- How to Apply for a Free LPG Connection
- How the Subsidy Reaches Your Bank Account
- Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Pros & Cons
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Quick Links
What Is PMUY?
Before 2016, a large share of rural Indian households cooked using firewood, cow-dung cakes, or coal fuels that cause serious indoor air pollution and long-term respiratory illness, disproportionately affecting women who spend the most time near the stove. Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana was launched to solve this by giving adult women from poor households a free, deposit-free LPG (cooking gas) connection, along with the first cylinder refill and a stove at no cost.
The scheme is implemented through the three main public sector oil marketing companies Indian Oil (Indane), Bharat Petroleum (Bharat Gas), and Hindustan Petroleum (HP Gas) and connections are issued in the name of the woman of the household, directly supporting the scheme’s second goal: women’s empowerment through asset ownership.
Ujjwala 2.0, launched in 2021, expanded the scheme further by removing the need for a fixed address proof for migrant families (a self-declaration is accepted instead) and adding a free first refill plus hotplate for all new connections.
Objectives of the Scheme
- Provide clean cooking fuel to replace firewood, coal, and cow-dung cakes
- Reduce indoor air pollution and related health issues, especially among women and children
- Empower women by issuing the LPG connection in their name
- Reduce the drudgery and time spent collecting traditional fuel
- Improve environmental outcomes by cutting deforestation linked to firewood use
- Extend LPG access to migrant workers and marginalised households without requiring formal address proof
Key Features & Benefits
| Feature | Detail |
|---|---|
| Security deposit | Waived the connection is completely deposit-free |
| First refill | Free, along with a hotplate/stove under Ujjwala 2.0 |
| Installation charges | Covered by the Government/Oil Marketing Companies |
| Ongoing refill subsidy | ₹300 per 14.2 kg cylinder (pro-rated for 5 kg cylinders), credited via DBT |
| Number of subsidised refills | Up to 9 refills per year (FY 2025–26 Cabinet approval); some earlier years allowed up to 12 |
| Connection ownership | Issued in the name of the adult woman applicant |
| No hidden charges | Government explicitly warns against agents demanding extra payment |
| Special provision | Migrant workers can apply using a self-declaration in place of address proof |
| Mandatory e-KYC | Required from FY 2026 onward for subsidy to be credited |
Subsidy Amount: How It Has Changed
The per-cylinder subsidy has been revised several times to protect PMUY beneficiaries from global LPG price swings (India imports roughly 60% of its LPG requirement):
| Period | Subsidy per 14.2 kg Cylinder | Refills Covered/Year |
|---|---|---|
| May 2022 | ₹200 | Up to 12 |
| October 2023 | ₹300 | Up to 12 |
| FY 2024–25 | ₹300 | Up to 12 |
| FY 2025–26 (current) | ₹300 | Up to 9 |
💡 Tip: The subsidy is a cash-back, not an upfront discount you pay the market price at the gas agency first, and the ₹300 per eligible cylinder is credited separately to your Aadhaar-linked bank account, usually within a few days.
Growth of PMUY Since 2016
| Milestone | Connections (Crore) | Visual |
|---|---|---|
| March 2023 | 9.59 | ███████▊ |
| July 2025 | 10.33 | ████████▍ |
| 2026 (with 25 lakh new approvals) | 10.5+ | █████████▌ |
The government has approved 25 lakh additional connections, pushing total targeted coverage beyond 10.8 crore households nationwide.
Eligibility Criteria
| Criterion | Requirement |
|---|---|
| Gender & age | Adult woman, 18 years or above |
| Existing LPG connection | Must not already have one in the household |
| Household category (any one of) | BPL ration card holder |
| Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana – Gramin (PMAY-G) beneficiary | |
| Antyodaya Anna Yojana (AAY) ration card holder | |
| SECC 2011 listed household | |
| Member of a Scheduled Caste / Scheduled Tribe household | |
| Tea garden / ex-tea garden worker | |
| Forest dweller, Most Backward Class, or island/river-island resident | |
| Woman covered under the “14-point declaration” for households not otherwise listed | |
| Special case | Migrant workers may apply with a self-declaration of family details in place of address proof |
Documents Required
- Aadhaar Card (mandatory for e-KYC and subsidy transfer)
- Proof of address (ration card, voter ID, or self-declaration for migrants)
- Bank account details (Aadhaar-linked, for DBT subsidy)
- Passport-size photograph
- BPL/SECC/AAY/PMAY-G category proof, whichever applies
- Duly filled KYC form (Form A), available free at the gas agency
How to Apply for a Free LPG Connection
| Step | Action |
|---|---|
| 1 | Visit the official website pmuy.gov.in or go directly to your nearest LPG distributor (Indane/Bharat Gas/HP Gas) |
| 2 | Fill the PMUY KYC application form (Form A) available free of cost |
| 3 | Attach Aadhaar, address proof/self-declaration, category proof, and bank details |
| 4 | Submit the form at the distributor’s office |
| 5 | Complete biometric/Aadhaar-based e-KYC |
| 6 | Once verified, the connection, first refill, and stove are delivered/installed |
How the Subsidy Reaches Your Bank Account
- You buy a refill at the prevailing market price from your gas agency.
- The delivery is confirmed against your Aadhaar-linked consumer number.
- Within a few days, ₹300 (per eligible cylinder, up to the annual cap) is credited directly to your bank account via DBT.
- You can check subsidy status anytime at mylpg.in (select “Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana” → Subsidy Status) or via pfms.nic.in (“Know Your Payment”).
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Skipping e-KYC: From FY 2026, the ₹300 subsidy will not be credited without completed Aadhaar e-KYC even for existing beneficiaries.
- Paying “processing fees”: The connection is completely free; report any distributor demanding extra money to the toll-free helpline.
- Not linking the correct bank account: Subsidy goes only to the Aadhaar-seeded account on record update it if you switch banks.
- Assuming unlimited subsidised refills: The subsidy caps out after the annual refill limit (currently 9); refills beyond that are at full market price.
- Ignoring the DBT status check: Regularly checking mylpg.in helps catch missed subsidy credits early.
Pros & Cons
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Zero-cost connection, deposit, first refill, and stove | Subsidy caps at 9 refills/year beyond that, full market price applies |
| Direct cash-back via DBT, no middlemen | Requires an Aadhaar-linked bank account and functioning mobile number for OTP e-KYC |
| Big positive health impact from clean cooking fuel | Rural households sometimes revert partially to traditional fuels once free refills run out |
| Connection issued in the woman’s name supports asset ownership | Distributor stock/logistics delays possible in remote areas |
| Simple, well-documented application process | e-KYC non-compliance can pause subsidy credit |
Frequently Asked Questions
Q1. Is the LPG connection under PMUY completely free?
Yes the security deposit, first refill, and stove are provided free of cost. You only pay the market price for refills after that, with a ₹300 cash-back subsidy credited separately for eligible cylinders.
Q2. How many subsidised cylinders can I get in a year?
Currently up to 9 refills per year (FY 2025–26), each carrying a ₹300 subsidy, subject to Cabinet approval each financial year.
Q3. Can a woman with an existing LPG connection apply?
No PMUY connections are meant for households without any existing LPG connection.
Q4. What if I don’t have a ration card?
You can still apply using the “14-point self-declaration” route if you fall into a recognised low-income category, or through SECC 2011 data.
Q5. How do I check if my subsidy was credited?
Visit mylpg.in, select the Ujjwala Yojana section, and check your subsidy status using your LPG consumer number.
Q6. What is the helpline number for complaints or fraud reporting?
Call the toll-free PMUY helpline 1800-266-6696, or the LPG emergency helpline 1906 for safety issues.
Quick Links
| Resource | Link |
|---|---|
| 📝 Application Form / Apply for Free Connection | Click Here |
| 🌐 Official PMUY Website | Click Here |
| 📊 Check Subsidy / DBT Status (mylpg.in) | Click Here |
| 🗂️ Other Government Yojana Info | Click Here |
| 🏠 National Government Home Page (India.gov.in) | Click Here |
| ☎️ PMUY Toll-Free Helpline | 1800-266-6696 |