New Delhi: The government has approved the release of 25 lakh additional free LPG connections for women from poor households under the Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana (PMUY) in the current financial year, the Oil Ministry announced on Monday.
“With this expansion, the total number of PMUY connections will rise to 10.58 crore,” the ministry stated.
An expenditure of ₹676 crore has been approved for this initiative. This includes ₹512.5 crore for providing 25 lakh deposit-free connections at ₹2,050 per connection, ₹160 crore for a targeted subsidy of ₹300 per 14.2 kg domestic LPG cylinder (for up to nine refills annually, pro-rated for 5 kg cylinders), and ₹3.5 crore for project management and other related expenses.
Under PMUY, beneficiaries receive a deposit-free LPG connection covering the cylinder security deposit, pressure regulator, ‘suraksha’ hose, domestic gas consumer card (DGCC) booklet, and installation charges. The first refill and stove are also provided free of cost, with no payment required, as expenses are borne by the Government of India and Oil Marketing Companies (OMCs).
Beneficiaries can choose from a 14.2 kg single-bottle, a 5 kg single-bottle, or a 5 kg double-bottle LPG connection.
The process for obtaining an LPG connection under PMUY has been fully digitized and streamlined to ensure transparency and ease of access. Eligible adult women from poor households without an existing LPG connection can apply by submitting a simplified KYC form and Deprivation Declaration, either online or at any public sector OMC distributor. Applications undergo system-driven de-duplication checks, followed by physical verification by OMC officials, before issuance of a subscription voucher and installation at the applicant’s residence.
Existing applicants with pending applications must complete a revised eKYC process and submit details according to the updated proforma.
Launched in May 2016, PMUY initially aimed to provide 8 crore deposit-free LPG connections, achieved by September 2019. To cover remaining poor households, Ujjwala 2.0 was launched in August 2021 with a target of 1 crore additional connections, achieved by January 2022. Subsequently, 60 lakh more connections were approved under Ujjwala 2.0, completed in December 2022, and another 75 lakh by July 2024. As of July 2025, over 10.33 crore PMUY connections have been released nationwide, making it one of the largest clean energy initiatives in the world.
Union Minister of Petroleum and Natural Gas Hardeep Singh Puri said, “With the onset of Navratri, providing 25 lakh deposit-free LPG connections under Ujjwala is a testament to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s commitment to treating women with the respect accorded to Goddess Durga. This initiative strengthens our efforts for the dignity and empowerment of mothers and sisters. Ujjwala has become one of India’s most impactful social welfare schemes—transforming kitchens, safeguarding health, and brightening the future of families across the country.”
