Ujjwala Yojana- Good news for poor womens in India. The Petroleum Ministry announced on Monday that the governmenthas approved 2.5 million additional free LPG connections to poor women under the Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana ( PMUY ) in the current financial year. The expansion will take the total number of connections under the scheme to 105.8 million.
The government has approved a total outlay of Rs 676 crore for the scheme. This includes Rs 512.5 crore for providing 2.5 million connections without any deposit. In addition, ₹160 crore has been approved for a targeted subsidy of ₹300 per 14.2-kg domestic LPG cylinder, and ₹3.5 crore for project management and other expenses.
Announcing the decision, Union Petroleum and Natural Gas Minister Hardeep Singh Puri said, “This strengthens our resolve to respect and empower mothers and sisters. Ujjwala has emerged as one of the most impactful social welfare schemes in India, transforming kitchens, protecting health, and brightening the future of families across the country.”
Connection and benefits under the scheme
Under PMUY, beneficiaries receive a no-deposit LPG connection, which includes the cylinder, pressure regulator, safety hose, domestic gas consumer card booklet, and installation fee. The first refill of the cylinder and a stove are also provided free of charge. Beneficiaries do not have to pay any fees for the LPG connection, the first refill, or the stove.
Application Process
Beneficiaries can choose a connection with a single 14.2 kg cylinder, a smaller 5 kg cylinder, or two 5 kg cylinders. The connection process is fully streamlined and technologically enabled to ensure transparency and ease of access. Adult women from eligible poor households who do not already have an LPG connection can apply online or at any LPG distributor with a simple KYC application form and a declaration.
After system-based verification of applications, marketing company officials conduct physical verification. Subscription vouchers are then issued and the LPG connection is installed at the applicant’s home. Applicants whose applications are pending will need to go through the revised e-KYC process and submit details according to the updated proforma.
The PMUY was launched in May 2016 with a target of providing 80 million free LPG connections, which was completed by September 2019. Ujjwala 2.0 was subsequently launched in August 2021, aiming to provide an additional 10 million connections by January 2022. Six million additional connections were provided by December 2022 and another 7.5 million by July 2024. By July 2025, more than 103.3 million connections had been issued across the country, making the scheme one of the largest clean energy initiatives in the world.