Lok Sabha Question No. 1618 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2024-12-05
Subject: LPG Cylinders under Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana
Ministry: PETROLEUM AND NATURAL GAS
Asked by: Dr. Shashi Tharoor

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1618 TO BE ANSWERED ON 05 DECEMBER, 2024

## LPG Cylinders under Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana

1618.   Dr. Shashi Tharoor:

## पेĚोͧलयम एवं Ĥाक ृ Ǔतक गैस मंğी

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

- (a) the percentage of beneficiaries of the PM Ujjwala Yojana who either did not take a cylinder or just took one refill annually during the last three financial years and the current year;
- (b) whether the Government has undertaken any study to assess and resolve such issues and if so, the details thereof;
- (c) whether the Government has taken any steps to help struggling households that are paying high prices for gas cylinders, even with subsidies;
- (d) whether the Government has undertaken any measures to lower the prices of  LPG cylinders for households not covered under Ujjwala Yojana; and
- (e) if so, the details thereof, and if not, the reasons therefor?

## 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  01.11.2024,  there  are  10.33  crore  Pradhan  Mantri  Ujjwala  Yojana  (PMUY) beneficiaries across the country. Details of refills taken by PMUY beneficiaries during the last three financial years is at Annexure.

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.

Under PAHAL Scheme, the domestic LPG cylinders are sold at non-subsidised price and the applicable subsidy to the consumers is transferred directly into their bank accounts. Apart from the direct subsidy to consumers, the OMCs have also been compensated Rs 22,000 crore in FY 2022-23 by Government of India to cover the under-recoveries suffered by them in not passing on the high international LPG prices to the domestic LPG consumers.

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  has  increased  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.  A  few  State Governments are providing some additional subsidy on LPG refills and bear the additional cost from their respective budgets.

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 3.68 (FY 2021-22) to 3.95 in FY 2023-24, and 4.34 in FY 2024-25 (upto October 2024).PMUY consumption has witnessed a growth of 24.3% during Oct 2024 vis-à-vis October 2023 (Total PMUY consumption has risen from 459TMT to 570.7 TMT during this period).

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Annexure referred to in part (a) of Lok Sabha Unstarred Question No. 1618 to be answered on 05.12.2024  regarding  " LPG Cylinders  under  Pradhan  Mantri  Ujjwala  Yojana'  asked  by  Dr. Shashi Tharoor.

| Financial Year   | Number of PMUY Customers as on closing of FY (A)   | Number of PMUY Customers out of (A), who have not taken any refill during FY   | Number of PMUY Customers out of (A), who have taken only one refill (incl installation refill) during FY   |
|------------------|----------------------------------------------------|--------------------------------------------------------------------------------|------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| 2021-22          | 7,99,03,131                                        | 91,74,648                                                                      | 1,08,13,246                                                                                                |
| 2022-23          | 9,58,59,418                                        | 1,18,84,259                                                                    | 1,54,74,040                                                                                                |
| 2023-24          | 10,32,66,007                                       | 1,40,48,192                                                                    | 1,66,52,314                                                                                                |

Source:- Indian Oil Corporation Limited (IOCL).