Lok Sabha Question No. 5493 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-04-03
Subject: Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana in West Bengal
Ministry: PETROLEUM AND NATURAL GAS
Asked by: Shri Saumitra Khan

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 5493 TO BE ANSWERED ON 03 rd  April, 2025

## Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana in West Bengal

5493.   Shri Saumitra Khan:

## पेĚोͧलयम एवं Ĥाक ृ Ǔतक गैस मंğी

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

- (a) the number of Below Poverty Line/Scheduled Caste/Scheduled Tribe families covered under Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana (PMUY) especially in West Bengal;
- (b)  whether  the  Government  has  noticed  that  the  beneficiaries  of  PMUY  scheme  are  not interested in refilling their gas cylinders due to LPG price hike/lack of funds;
- (c) if so, the details thereof along with the response of the Government thereto including steps taken  for  reducing  the  price  of  LPG  cylinders  or  providing  subsidy  to  the  said  categories, State/UT-wise;
- (d) whether the Government has been able to achieve the objectives set under PMUY; and
- (e) if so, the details thereof and if not, the corrective steps taken/proposed to be taken in this regard?

## 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  in  May,  2016  to  provide deposit  free  LPG  connection  to  adult  women  from  poor  households  across  the  country.  LPG connection  under  PMUY  is  released  in  the  name  of  adult  women  of  the  poor  households, provided  no  LPG  connection  exists  in  the  name  of  any  family  member  of  the  household  and fulfilling  other  terms  and  conditions.  Households  belonging  to  Socio  Economic  Caste  Census (SECC) list or from seven other categories such as Scheduled Caste(SC) Households, Scheduled Tribe(ST)  Households,  Most  Backward  Classes  (MBC),  Beneficiaries  of  PM  Awas  Yojana (Gramin),  Beneficiaries  of  Antyodaya  Anna  Yojana  (AAY),  Forest  Dwellers,  Resident  of islands/ river islands, Tea garden / ex-tea garden workers  or poor households not covered under the above categories by submitting 14 point declaration are eligible for a PMUY connection.

As on 01.03.2025, there are 10.33 crore PMUY connections across the country including 1.24 crore  connections  in  the  State  of  West  Bengal.    As  on  01.03.2025,  there  are  3.13  crore beneficiaries in SC, ST and SC/ST category including 36.41 lakh in State of West Bengal.

The primary objective of the PMUY is to provide access to clean cooking fuel LPG to such poor households thereby protecting their health by reducing the serious health hazards associated with use  of  conventional  cooking  fuel  such  as  firewood,  coal,  cow  dung  etc.  which  cause  severe indoor household air pollution. Use of LPG as cooking fuel frees women from the drudgery of collecting  firewood,  reduces  time  spent  on  cooking  and  prevents  deforestation.  PMUY  has majorly contributed to imporve LPG coverage in the country from 62% in April 2016 to near saturation now.

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, 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. While the average Saudi CP (international benchmark for LPG pricing) rose by 63% (from US$ 385/MT in July 2023 to US$ 629/MT in February 2025), the  effective  price  for  Pradhan  Mantri  Ujjwala  Yojana (PMUY) consumers for domestic  LPG was reduced by 44% (from Rs. 903 in August 2023 to Rs. 503 in February 2025).

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.

Since  the  launch  of  PMUY  till  financial  year  2022-23,  Government  has  been  bearing  an expenditure  of  up  to  Rs.1,600  per  PMUY  connection  for  Security  Deposit  (SD)  of  Cylinder, Pressure Regulator, Suraksha Hose, DGCC booklet and installation charges. From financial year 2023-24,  this  expenditure  has  been  increased  to  Rs.2,200  per  connection  for  14.2  Kg  Single Bottle Connection/ 5 Kg Double Bottle Connection & Rs.1,300 per connection for 5 Kg Single Bottle Connection. State/UT-wise details of LPG connections under PMUY are at Annexure- A .

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.

Further, as a result of various steps taken by Government to improve access and affordability of domestic LPG for PMUY consumers, per capita consumption of PMUY beneficiaries (in terms of no. of 14.2 kg LPG cylinders taken per year) has increased from 3.01 (FY 2019-20) to 3.95 in FY 2023-24 and 4.43 in FY 2024-25 (as on 01.03. 2025).

Various independent studies and reports have shown that PMUY scheme has had a significant positive  impact  on  the  lives  of  rural  households,  especially  women  and  families  in  rural  and remote areas. Some key benefits are briefly explained below:

(i)  PMUY had resulted in a shift from  traditional cooking methods that involve burning solid fuels  like  wood,  dung  and  crop  residues.  The  use  of  cleaner  fuel  lowers  indoor  air  pollution, leading  to  improved  respiratory  health,  particularly  among  women  and  children  who  are traditionally more exposed to household smoke.

(ii)  Households  in  rural  areas,  especially  those  in  remote  locations,  often  spend  a  significant portion  of  their  time  and  energy  in  collecting  traditional  cooking  fuels.  LPG  has  reduced drudgery  and  the  time  spent  on  cooking  by  women  of  poor  households.  The  free  time,  thus, available with them can be utilized in multiple spheres for enhanced economic productivity.

(iii) Transition from biomass and traditional fuels to LPG reduces the dependency on wood and other  biomass  for  cooking  purposes,  leading  to  a  decrease  in  deforestation  and  environmental degradation. This benefits not only the households but also contributes to broader environmental conservation efforts.

(iv) With improved cooking facilities, there is a potential positive impact on nutrition. Families may find it easier to cook a variety of nutritious meals, contributing to better overall health.

*******

Annexure referred to in part (a) to (e) of Lok Sabha Unstarred Question No. 5493 to be answered on 03.04.2025 regarding 'PMUY Beneficiaries' by Shri Saumitra Khan.

State/UT-wise details of connections released under PMUY Scheme As on 01.03.2025

| State/UT                          | Number ofPMUY Customers   |
|-----------------------------------|---------------------------|
| Andaman &Nicobar Island           | 13,824                    |
| Andhra Pradesh                    | 9,73,250                  |
| Arunachal Pradesh                 | 53,795                    |
| Assam                             | 50,97,581                 |
| Bihar                             | 1,16,28,783               |
| Chandigarh                        | 2,027                     |
| Chhatisgarh                       | 38,01,474                 |
| Dadra Nagar Haveli &Daman and Diu | 17,792                    |
| Delhi                             | 2,59,674                  |
| Goa                               | 1,955                     |
| Gujarat                           | 43,08,665                 |
| Haryana                           | 11,15,235                 |
| Himachal Pradesh                  | 1,50,742                  |
| Jammu &Kashmir                    | 12,69,741                 |
| Jharkhand                         | 38,95,189                 |
| Karnataka                         | 41,46,904                 |
| Kerala                            | 3,87,787                  |
| Ladakh                            | 11,086                    |
| Lakshadweep                       | 370                       |
| Madhya Pradesh                    | 88,47,087                 |
| Maharashtra                       | 52,17,601                 |
| Manipur                           | 2,24,926                  |
| Meghalaya                         | 3,17,155                  |
| Mizoram                           | 36,006                    |
| Nagaland                          | 1,22,147                  |
| Odisha                            | 55,49,512                 |
| Puducherry                        | 19,383                    |
| Punjab                            | 13,59,442                 |
| Rajasthan                         | 73,81,514                 |
| Sikkim                            | 19,872                    |
| Tamil Nadu                        | 41,00,025                 |
| Telangana                         | 11,84,203                 |
| Tripura                           | 3,16,420                  |
| Uttar Pradesh                     | 1,85,94,200               |
| Uttarakhand                       | 5,30,161                  |
| West Bengal                       | 1,23,75,281               |

Source: Indian Oil Corporation Limited on Industry basis