Lok Sabha Question No. 4134 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2024-12-19
Subject: Mechanism to Assess Success and Failure of PMUY
Ministry: PETROLEUM AND NATURAL GAS
Asked by: Shri Sudhakar Singh

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 4134 TO BE ANSWERED ON 19 DECEMBER, 2024

## Mechanism to Assess Success and Failure of PMUY

## 4134. Shri Sudhakar Singh:

## पेĚोͧलयम एवं Ĥाक ृ Ǔतक गैस मंğी

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

- (a) whether it is a fact that even the beneficiaries of the Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana (PMUY) are unable to use the cooking gas due to high cost of refilled gas cylinder;
- (b) if so, the details thereof along with the action plan of the Government to address the issue;
- (c) whether the Government  has any monitoring mechanism  to assess the impact of implementation of the scheme and if so, the details thereof;
- (d)  the  current  number  of  households  still  deprived  of  LPG  connections  and  using  traditional sources like firewood, coal and dungcakes for cooking; and
- (e) the steps taken/being taken by the Government to ensure the availability and accessibility of LPG at the doorsteps of rural households, particularly in remote areas?

## ANSWER

## पेĚोͧलयम एवं Ĥाक ृ Ǔतक गैस मंğालय मɅ राÏयमंğी ( Įी सुरेश गोपी )

## MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF PETROLEUM AND NATURAL GAS (SHRI SURESH GOPI)

- (a) to  (e):  Pradhan  Mantri  Ujjwala  Yojana  (PMUY)  was  launched  on  01.05.2016  to  provide deposit free LPG connection in the name of adult woman member of poor households across the country. As on 01.12.2024, the total number of active domestic LPG consumers in India stands at  32.83  crore,  which  includes 10.33 crore beneficiaries of the Pradhan  Mantri UjjwalaYojana (PMUY). This is in addition to about 1.38 crore Domestic Piped Natural Gas connections in the country.

LPG  consumption  of  PMUY  beneficiaries  is  monitored  on  regular  basis.  Consumption  of domestic  LPG  by  households  depends  on  several  factors  like  food  habits,  household  size, cooking habits, tradition, flavor, taste, preferences ,  price and availability of alternate fuels, etc.

India imports about 60% of the domestic LPG consumed. Price of LPG in the country is linked to its price in the international market. Government continues to modulate the effective price to consumer for domestic LPG. Average Saudi CP (international benchmark for LPG pricing) rose by  64%  (from  US$  385/MT  in  July  2023  to  US$  632  /MT  in  November  2024)  while  the effective  price  for  Pradhan  Mantri  Ujjawala  Yojana  (PMUY)  consumers  for  domestic  LPG reduced in India by 44% (from Rs. 903 in August 2023 to Rs. 503 in November 2024).

Government reduced the retail selling price of domestic LPG for all consumers by Rs. 200 per 14.2 Kg LPG cylinder with effect from 30th August, 2023. Government further reduced the RSP of domestic LPG by Rs. 100 per 14.2 Kg cylinder w.e.f. 9th March, 2024. The current RSP of domestic LPG at Delhi is Rs. 803 per 14.2 Kg cylinder.

To  make  LPG  more  affordable  to  PMUY  consumers  and  ensure  sustained  usage  of  LPG  by them, Government started a targeted subsidy of Rs.200/- per 14.2 kg cylinder for up to 12 refills per  Annum  (and  proportionately  pro-rated  for  5  Kg  connections)  to  the  PMUY  consumers  in May  2022.  In  October  2023,  Government  increased  the  targeted  subsidy  Rs.300  per  14.2  kg cylinder  for  up  to  12  refills  per  annum  (and  proportionately  pro-rated  for  5  Kg  connections). 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.503 per cylinder (in Delhi). This is available to more than 10.33 crore Ujjwala beneficiaries, across the country.

In order to improve access to LPG across the country, various steps have been taken inter alia, including organizing campaigns for improving awareness about PMUY, organizing melas/camps to  enroll  and  distribute connections,  promotion  through  Out  of  Home  (OOH)  hoardings,  radio jingles, Information, Education and Communication (IEC) Vans etc., spreading awareness about advantages  of  using  LPG  over  other  conventional  fuels  and  safe  usage  of  LPG  through  LPG Panchayats,  enrolment/awareness  camps  under  Viksit  Bharat  Sankalp  Yatra,  facilitation  of consumers  and  their  families  for  Aadhar  enrolment  and  opening  of  bank  accounts  for  getting PMUY connections, simplification of process of getting LPG connection, online application for PMUY connection  at  www.pmuy.gov.in,  nearest  LPG  distributors,  Common  Service  Centres (CSC) etc., option of 5 Kg Double Bottle Connection (DBC), swap option from 14.2 Kg to 5 Kg, provision for Migrant Families to avail new connection on Self-Declaration instead of Proof of Address and  Ration  Card.  Further,  OMCs  are  continuously  commissioning  new  LPG Distributorships,  especially  in  rural  areas.  Since  the  launch  of  PMUY  scheme,  OMCs  have commissioned  7944  Distributorships  (commissioned  during  01.04.2016  to  31.10.2024)  across the  country,  out  of  which  7361  (i.e.  93  %)  are  catering  to  rural  areas.      The  steadily  rising consumption of domestic LPG by PMUY consumers indicative of growing acceptance of LPG by rural households, who comprise over 80% of PMUY consumers. Per Capita Consumption of PMUY households has increased from 3.01 refills (in terms of 14.2 Kg domestic LPG cylinders) in 2019-20 to 3.95 in 2023-24 to 4.34( on annualised basis) in 2024-25, upto November 2024.

OMCs launched  a  'Basic  Safety  campaign'  in  March  2024  under  the  theme  'Khushiyan  Ab Teen Guna' with the objective of reaching domestic LPG customers. The campaign is designed to  educate  consumers  on  the  safe  usage  of  LPG,  complemented  by  extensive  mass  awareness initiatives through print and electronic media, on-site safety checks at customer premises, and the replacement of Suraksha hoses. The campaign has achieved significant progress with over 8.0 crore free basic safety checks conducted without any cost to consumer and more than 3.33 crore LPG hoses replaced at discounted rates till 30th October 2024. Additionally, audio-visual (AV) materials are being utilized during various field safety initiatives, such as LPG Panchayats and LPG Safety Clinics in schools, as well as for general public outreach. These AVs are also being shared across social media platforms to maximize reach and impact.

LPG consumers including PMUY beneficiaries can book a refill by various methods including Interactive  Voice  Response  System(IVRS),  Short  Message  Service(SMS),  Whatsapp,  calling directly  on  the  phone of  distributor,  e-commerce  platforms,  OMC  mobile  applications,  OMCs web-portals  etc.  These  various  options  provide  enhanced  user  accessibility  for  seamless  and hassle-free booking of LPG refills.

All distributors, except Durgam Kshetriya Vitraks, are under instructions to make home delivery of LPG cylinders in their area of operation without any additional charges.

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