Lok Sabha Question No. 917 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-07-24
Subject: Distribution of Petrol Pumps and Gas Agencies to SCs and STs in Uttar Pradesh
Ministry: PETROLEUM AND NATURAL GAS
Asked by: Shri Daroga Prasad Saroj

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 917 TO BE ANSWERED ON 24 th  July, 2025

## Distribution of Petrol Pumps and Gas Agencies to SCs and STs in Uttar Pradesh

## †917. Shri Daroga Prasad Saroj

## पेट Ō ोिलयम एवं Ůाक ृ ितक गैस मंũी

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

- (a) whether the Government has discontinued the Quota or distribution of petrol pumps and gas  agencies  to  the  people  of  Scheduled  Castes  (SCs)  and  Scheduled  Tribes  (STs) community in the country meant for their upliftment;
- (b) if so, the details thereof along with the efforts being made by the Government to restart the same;
- (c) the number of petrol pumps and gas agencies distributed/awarded to the people of SC and  ST  communities  in  the  State  of  Uttar  Pradesh  during  the  last  eleven  years  and  the current year for their upliftment; and
- (d) whether the Government has taken cognisance of the cases under the said quota in the State of Uttar Pradesh particularly in the districts of Azamgarh, Mau, Ballia and Jaunpur, where  petrol  pumps  were  taken  over  by  large  businessmen  and  the  original  owners were/are working as employees for a salary between Rs. 15000 to Rs. 20000 and if so, the reaction of the Government thereto?

## ANSWER

पेट Ō ोिलयम और Ůाक ृ ितक गैस मंũालय मŐ राǛ मंũी ( Įी सुरेश गोपी )

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

- (a) & (b) Subsequent to dismantling of Administered Pricing Mechanism (APM) w.e.f. 1.4.2002, the selection of Retail Outlet (RO) dealers and LPG distributorships are done by  Public  Sector  Oil  Marketing  Companies  (OMCs)  themselves  for  all  categories including SC and ST.

As  per  extant  Dealer  Selection  Guidelines  2023  for  retail  outlets  and  extant  Unified Guidelines  for  selection  of  LPG  distributorships  of  Public  Sector  OMCs,  22.5% advertised locations are reserved for SC and ST candidates in all states except states of Arunachal  Pradesh,  Meghalaya,  Nagaland  and  Mizoram.  In  the  states  of  Arunachal Pradesh, Meghalaya, Nagaland and Mizoram 70,80, 80 & 90 % of advertised locations for RO dealers and 49,56,56 & 63 for LPG distributors are reserved for ST category respectively.  Detailed  Norms/Criteria/Reservation  for  allotment  of  RO  dealerships  in the  country  are  available  at    www.petrolpumpdealerchayan.in/petrol-2023/  and  the detailed guidelines regarding selection of LPG distributorships are available at www.lpgvitarakchayan.in.

- (c)    The  numbers  of  Retail  Outlets  and  LPG  Distributorships  allotted  to  SC  and  ST communities in the State of Uttar Pradesh during the last eleven years and the current year are as below :-
- (d)  Post selection, PSU OMCs execute Dealership/Distributorship Agreement with the dealer.  As  per  the  Dealership/Distributorship  Agreement,  dealer  is  bound  to  maintain control over the RO/LPG dealership. Any violation in this regard is treated as violation of the Dealership/Distributorship Agreement, which may lead to the termination of the dealership/distributorship. Further, credentials of the dealers/distributors with respect to benami  operations  are  verified  on  a  regular  basis  by  PSU  OMCs.  Action  as  per  the Dealership/Distributorships Agreement is taken on established cases of benami operations.

| PSUOMC   | RO Dealerships   | RO Dealerships   | LPG Distributorships   | LPG Distributorships   |
|----------|------------------|------------------|------------------------|------------------------|
| PSUOMC   | SC               | ST               | SC                     | ST                     |
| OMC      | 2447             | 63               | 420                    | 5                      |

As per extant Reconstitution Guidelines of PSU OMCs, ROs allotted to SC/ST can be reconstituted  after  three  years  with  induction  of  non-SC/non-ST  category  partner  with maximum share of 25% only with controlling stake remaining with SC/ST dealer.

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