New Delhi, August 9, 2025 — In a major relief to millions of low-income households, the Union Cabinet has approved a ₹300 per cylinder subsidy for beneficiaries of the PM Ujjwala Yojana. The decision, aimed at reducing the financial burden of cooking gas on poor families, will cover up to 9 refills per household per year and benefit 10.33 crore families across India.
According to the government, the subsidy will be directly transferred into the bank accounts of eligible beneficiaries under the Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) scheme. This ensures that the PM Ujjwala Yojana households can access clean cooking fuel without the volatility of market-linked LPG prices.
Relief Amid Rising LPG Prices
LPG prices have been a major concern for rural and economically weaker households. With this subsidy, the effective price of a 14.2 kg LPG cylinder for PM Ujjwala Yojana beneficiaries will be significantly lower, encouraging sustained adoption of clean fuel and reducing dependence on polluting alternatives like firewood and kerosene.
Union Minister for Petroleum and Natural Gas, Hardeep Singh Puri, stated, “This step reflects our government’s commitment to ensuring affordable access to clean energy for all. The subsidy will continue to strengthen the objectives of the PM Ujjwala Yojana by improving health, reducing indoor pollution, and empowering women.”
Boost to Women’s Welfare and Rural Health
The PM Ujjwala Yojana, launched in May 2016, has been one of the flagship social welfare schemes of the government. It aims to provide free LPG connections to women from below-poverty line households, thus improving health outcomes by eliminating indoor air pollution.
This subsidy extension is expected to increase refill rates, which had seen fluctuations due to price hikes. By making LPG more affordable, the government hopes to ensure that PM Ujjwala Yojana beneficiaries continue to use clean cooking fuel consistently, thereby supporting rural health, gender empowerment, and environmental protection.
Implementation and Budgetary Impact
The decision will require substantial budgetary allocation, with the government estimating thousands of crores in annual expenditure. However, officials maintain that the socio-economic benefit ranging from reduced healthcare costs to improved quality of life justify the investment.
The subsidy will be applicable from the current financial year, and beneficiaries can check their eligibility and subsidy credits through the official PM Ujjwala Yojana portal or their LPG distributor.
Stay tuned to The News Drill for further updates on government welfare schemes and policy decisions.
