The Central Government has made major changes in the rules of Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana (PMUY). The government has now reduced the number of refills of subsidized LPG cylinders annually from 9 to 4. This means that the families covered under the Ujjwala scheme will be able to get the benefit of additional subsidy only on 4 cylinders in a year.

Why did the government take this decision?

According to the report of news agency PTI, the government official said on Monday that this change has been made keeping in mind the average domestic consumption. Under this scheme, which was started in the year 2016, earlier the beneficiaries used to get 12 cylinders of 14.2 kg each at subsidy in a year. However, last year the number of subsidized cylinders was reduced to nine, which has now been further reduced to four.

Praveen Mal Khanuja, Additional Secretary, Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas, said that the revised limit is close to the average annual gas consumption of Ujjwala beneficiaries. He said that the aim of the government is to provide support keeping in mind the needs of the beneficiaries. The government had introduced a targeted subsidy of Rs 200 per cylinder for the beneficiaries of the Ujjwala scheme in May, 2022, which was later increased to Rs 300 in October, 2023.

How much subsidy did the government give in 4 years?

This subsidy is sent directly to the bank accounts of the beneficiaries. The price of 14.2 kg LPG cylinder in Delhi has recently reached Rs 942 after increasing twice. However, after adding subsidy, Ujjwala beneficiaries are getting one cylinder for around Rs 642. The official said that on an average it costs the government about Rs 1,600 to supply one cylinder, while around Rs 1,000 per cylinder is provided to the beneficiaries through subsidy. He said that from the year 2022, the government has given subsidy of about Rs 52,000 crore.

LPG price is lower than global level: Government

Additional Secretary, Gas Ministry, Praveen Khanuja said that despite the recent increase in the price of LPG cylinder, domestic LPG prices in India are still low compared to the global level. During the West Asia crisis, sharp fluctuations in the prices of crude oil and LPG have been seen in the international market. He said that petroleum companies are incurring a loss of about Rs 700 per cylinder on LPG sales.

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LPG Gas Subsidy: Domestic LPG prices have been changed and the new rates have come into effect from Sunday, June 7. After the recent increase of Rs 29 per cylinder, domestic LPG has now become even more expensive. This increase in prices comes almost three months after oil companies increased LPG prices by Rs 60 per cylinder on March 7.

After this latest change, the price of 14.2 kg domestic LPG cylinder has now become Rs 942 in Delhi, Rs 941.50 in Mumbai, Rs 994 in Hyderabad and Rs 968 in Kolkata. Only in Bengaluru, domestic LPG prices remain at Rs 915.50 per cylinder. With this increase in prices, the question that naturally comes to mind is whether the government has made any changes in the rules regarding subsidy or not? Let us know.

Have the rules on subsidy changed?

Today, even after the price of domestic cylinder has increased by Rs 29, there has been no increase in the subsidy amount given by the government. The government has passed the entire burden of this increased price on the market rates, due to which the entire subsidy structure will remain in force. Let us take a look at the subsidies available to consumers in different categories:-

Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana

The families covered under Ujjwala Yojana (PMUY) will continue to get the same relief as before. Under this, Rs 300 per cylinder will be sent directly to the linked bank account. The price of domestic cylinder in Delhi has now become Rs 942.00, but after the subsidy of Rs 300, it will cost Rs 642.00 to Ujjwala beneficiaries. This subsidy is valid only up to 12 cylinders in a business year.

Subsidy to general consumers

If you are not a beneficiary of the Ujjwala scheme and use a normal connection, then the burden on your pocket has increased. This subsidy available to ordinary consumers is very limited. In many cities it is completely closed, while in some cities only between Rs 12-40 comes into the bank account as local freight subsidy.

General consumers will now have to pay the full increased new price of their city i.e. Rs 942 in Delhi and Rs 1031.50 in Patna.

Rules to stop subsidy

If subsidy is not coming in your account, there can be two reasons:-

• If your or your spouse’s annual taxable income is Rs 10 lakh or more, then as per rules you will not get the benefit of LPG subsidy.
• Under the new rules of e-KYC oil companies, the subsidy of those who have not completed the Aadhaar e-KYC process by visiting their gas agency will be temporarily stopped.

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LPG Price Hike: Commercial cylinder becomes costlier by Rs 1422, domestic cylinder by Rs 89; War in Iran spoils the game

LPG Cylinder: The result of the war between Iran and America is that the prices of crude oil are continuously rising. As a result, the prices of petrol and diesel have also been increased in the country. The prices of domestic LPG cylinders have also been increased by Rs 60 in March. Commercial cylinder rates have also increased by Rs 993 in May and now by Rs 42 in June. However, despite this, more than 10 crore families in India are getting Rs 587 cheaper than the LPG cylinder supply rate.

The price is much lower than the supply rate

After fluctuations in the international market, the actual supply cost of LPG in India is around Rs 1200, but due to subsidy, consumers are paying a lower price. Common citizens without subsidy are currently paying around Rs 913 per cylinder, which is Rs 287 less than the supply rate. At the same time, the government is giving additional subsidy to the beneficiaries of Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana (PMUY). The government sends a direct subsidy (DBT) of Rs 300 per cylinder to the bank accounts of the beneficiaries of this scheme. Due to this they pay only Rs 613 per cylinder. At the same time, in some states, due to reduced VAT or additional subsidy of Rs 20-25 given by the government, the prices become cheaper by Rs 587.

Who approves the application?

• To avail the benefits of Pradhan Mantri Ujjala Yojana, the following conditions have to be fulfilled:-
• Gas connection will be issued only in the name of the eldest female member of the family (above 18 years of age).
• There should not be any other LPG connection of any company (Indane, HPCL, Bharat Gas) in that house or ration card.
• The woman should be from a Below Poverty Line (BPL) family. Apart from this, people from SC/ST families, Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana, Antyodaya Anna Yojana or forest dwellers/backward classes are eligible.

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