From a kerosene-lit kitchen in Ballia, UP, to 10.55 crore clean-fuel homes across India — PMUY is one of the world’s largest clean cooking fuel programmes. Here is everything you need to know: what it is, who qualifies, how to apply, what benefits you get, and what has changed in 2026.
| PMUY At a Glance — Official Figures (May 26, 2026) | Details |
|---|---|
| Total Connections Released | 10.55 Crore connections as of May 26, 2026 |
| Subsidy per Cylinder (DBT) | ₹300 per cylinder (valid for FY 2026–27) |
| Maximum Subsidised Refills per Year | 9 refills (revised in 2026) |
| Launch Date | May 2016 – Ballia, Uttar Pradesh |
| Original Budget Allocation (Phase 1) | ₹8,000 Crore |
| New Connections Approved | 25 Lakh connections (September 2025 expansion) |
Before May 2016, an estimated 10 crore Indian households — roughly one in every four families in the country — cooked their daily meals over open fires fuelled by wood, cow dung, and crop residue. The smoke from these fires, trapped in small kitchens with inadequate ventilation, caused chronic respiratory illness.
A World Health Organization assessment found that the indoor air inhaled by rural Indian women from traditional biomass cooking was equivalent to the pollution from burning 400 cigarettes in an hour. Children in these households had elevated rates of pneumonia and stunted lung development. The women themselves typically walked long distances daily to collect firewood — hours that could not be spent on education, income generation, or rest.
The Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana was the Indian government’s response to this public health and gender equity crisis. Launched on May 1, 2016, by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in the Ballia district of Uttar Pradesh — chosen specifically because it had one of the lowest LPG penetration rates in the country — the scheme set out to provide free LPG cooking gas connections to women from Below Poverty Line households across India. Ten years on, it has become one of the largest clean cooking fuel programmes in the world.
“Swachh Indhan, Behtar Jeevan” — Clean Fuel, Better Life.
The Problem PMUY Was Designed to Solve
At the time of PMUY’s launch, India’s LPG penetration rate stood at just 62 per cent nationally — meaning more than a third of all Indian households had no access to clean cooking gas. In rural areas, the number was far lower. The consequences were not merely inconvenient; they were measurably life-shortening.
Burning solid fuels like wood, dung cakes, and coal indoors releases particulate matter, carbon monoxide, and carcinogenic compounds at concentrations that far exceed safe limits. Women and young children — who spend the most time near the cooking fire — bore a disproportionate share of this health burden. Indoor air pollution from household cooking was among the leading contributors to respiratory disease, cardiovascular damage, and premature death in rural India. The environmental cost — deforestation, carbon emissions, and soil degradation from biomass collection — ran parallel to the health toll.
LPG existed as a solution. It burns cleanly, cooks efficiently, and eliminates smoke almost entirely. But in 2016, an LPG connection required a refundable security deposit of ₹1,600 — a sum that placed it beyond the reach of India’s poorest households. PMUY was designed to remove that financial barrier entirely.
What PMUY Provides: The Benefits Package
Under the scheme, eligible beneficiaries receive a complete, deposit-free LPG connection — meaning the security deposit is waived. The connection is issued in the name of the adult woman of the household, a deliberate design choice to anchor the benefit in women’s agency and to ensure the gas is used for household cooking. The package provided includes:
- ✓Free LPG connection: The ₹1,600 security deposit is paid by the government on the woman’s behalf. No upfront cost to the beneficiary.
- ✓First refill free: The first cylinder refill is provided at no charge under the scheme.
- ✓Free hotplate / stove: A single-burner or double-burner LPG stove is provided free of cost with the initial connection.
- ✓₹300 per cylinder DBT subsidy: Beneficiaries receive a direct bank transfer of ₹300 for each cylinder refill, for up to 9 refills per year (revised down from 12 in FY26-27). The subsidy is deposited directly into the woman’s linked bank account after each refill.
- ✓Connection in woman’s name: The LPG connection is mandatorily registered in the adult female member’s name — not the male head of household.
2026 Subsidy Update — Key Change
The Union Cabinet has officially extended the ₹300 per cylinder DBT subsidy for all PMUY beneficiaries for FY 2026-27 (April 1, 2026 to March 31, 2027). However, the number of subsidised refills per year has been revised from 12 to 9 cylinders in the latest notification. From the 10th refill onwards, beneficiaries pay the full market rate.
The subsidy reaches beneficiaries via Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) — directly to the Aadhaar-linked bank account after each qualifying refill. Subsidy status can be checked at mylpg.in or pfms.nic.in.
Eligibility: Who Qualifies for PMUY 2.0 in 2026?
The scheme is exclusively for women. A male member of a household cannot apply, regardless of economic status. The core eligibility requirements are:
| Criterion | Requirement |
|---|---|
| Gender | Must be an adult woman (18 years or older) |
| Citizenship | Must be an Indian citizen |
| Existing LPG Connection | No LPG connection should exist in the applicant’s name or in the name of any family member within the household |
| Economic Status | Must belong to a Below Poverty Line (BPL) household or another specified marginalized category |
| Category Eligibility | Applicant must belong to at least one eligible category (any one qualifying category is sufficient) |
The eligible categories under PMUY 2.0 — any one of which qualifies an applicant — are:
- ✓SC / ST households — Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe families
- ✓PMAY-G beneficiaries — households listed under Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (Gramin)
- ✓Antyodaya Anna Yojana (AAY) beneficiaries — the poorest of the poor ration card holders
- ✓Most Backward Classes (MBC)
- ✓Forest dwellers
- ✓Tea and ex-tea garden tribe households
- ✓People residing in river islands (supporting document required)
- ✓SECC 2011 listed households — families listed as deprived in the Socio-Economic Caste Census
- ✓14-point declaration households — women who do not fall in any above category but can establish BPL status via a 14-point self-declaration form
- ✓Migrant workers (special provision) — migrants may apply with a self-declaration of family composition and address in lieu of formal address proof. No ration card required.
Documents Required
| Document | Purpose | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Aadhaar Card | Identity + address proof | Of applicant; used for e-KYC verification |
| Aadhaar of adult family members | Family declaration | Required for household verification |
| Ration Card | BPL status proof | Not mandatory for migrants (self-declaration allowed) |
| Bank account details | DBT subsidy transfer | Must be Aadhaar-linked for DBT to work |
| Category proof | Eligibility verification | SC/ST certificate, PMAY list, AAY card, etc. |
| e-KYC | Mandatory identity verification | Via biometric fingerprint at distributor or face-auth on UMANG app |
e-KYC is Mandatory in 2026 — Without It, No Subsidy
From FY 2026 onwards, Aadhaar-based e-KYC is a mandatory requirement for PMUY beneficiaries. If your e-KYC is not completed, the ₹300 DBT subsidy will not be credited to your account — even if you are a registered Ujjwala beneficiary. Visit your nearest LPG distributor with your Aadhaar card for biometric fingerprint verification, or use the face-authentication feature on the UMANG app.
How to Apply: Step-by-Step (Online and Offline)
As of 2026, the application process for PMUY 2.0 is fully online and paperless for most categories. Aadhaar e-KYC automatically verifies documents, eliminating the need for physical submission in most cases.
Go to pmuy.gov.in to apply online. Alternatively, visit your nearest Indane (IOCL), Bharat Gas (BPCL), or HP Gas (HPCL) distributor in person.
On the portal, select your preferred OMC (Indian Oil / Bharat Gas / HP Gas), then choose “Ujjwala 2.0 New Connection” as the connection type.
Enter your personal details — name, Aadhaar number, address, category (SC/ST/AAY etc.), and mobile number. For migrants, use the self-declaration option for address proof.
Choose the nearest authorised LPG distributor from the online list. You can also locate distributors at the oil company’s own website.
Verification is done via Aadhaar-linked biometric fingerprint scanning at your distributor, or via face-authentication on the UMANG app. This step is mandatory.
Provide your Aadhaar-linked bank account details. The ₹300 subsidy per cylinder will be credited here after each qualifying refill.
Once approved, the distributor will deliver the LPG connection, hotplate/stove, and first free cylinder to your address. Delivery timelines vary by district.
How to Check Your Application Status
Online: Visit pmuy.gov.in → “Check Beneficiary List” → Enter your Aadhaar or mobile number.
Subsidy status: Visit mylpg.in → Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana → Subsidy Status. Or check pfms.nic.in → “Know Your Payment.”
Offline: Contact your LPG distributor with your Aadhaar card and registered mobile number.
The Scheme’s Journey: A Timeline
| Year / Date | Milestone | Key Details |
|---|---|---|
| May 1, 2016 | Launch of PMUY Phase 1 | Launched from Ballia, Uttar Pradesh by PM Narendra Modi. Target: 5 crore BPL LPG connections within 3 years. Budget allocation: ₹8,000 crore. Financial assistance: ₹1,600 per connection. |
| 2018 | Target Expanded | Government increased the target from 5 crore to 8 crore connections, to be achieved by FY 2019–20. The 14-point BPL declaration was introduced to include previously excluded families. |
| September 7, 2019 | Phase 1 Completed | PM Modi distributed the 8th crore LPG connection in Aurangabad, Maharashtra. LPG penetration in India increased from 62% in 2016 to near-universal coverage. |
| August 10, 2021 | Ujjwala 2.0 Launch | PMUY 2.0 launched from Mahoba, Uttar Pradesh. An additional 1.6 crore connections were approved. Migrant workers were allowed to apply using self-declaration without ration card or address proof. Target achieved in December 2022. |
| 2023 | Subsidy Increased | The Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) subsidy was raised from ₹200 to ₹300 per LPG cylinder, benefiting more than 9.6 crore households. |
| September 22, 2025 | New Expansion Approved | Cabinet approved 25 lakh additional LPG connections with a total outlay of ₹676 crore. e-KYC became mandatory, and the subsidy limit was revised from 12 to 9 cylinders annually. |
| April 2026 | FY 2026–27 Subsidy Extension | The Union Cabinet extended the ₹300 per cylinder subsidy for the entire FY 2026–27. As of May 26, 2026, PMUY had provided 10.55 crore LPG connections across India. |
Measurable Impact: What the Data Shows
The National Family Health Survey data and independent assessments show a sharp and measurable improvement in clean cooking fuel access since 2016. India’s LPG penetration — the share of households using LPG as a primary cooking fuel — rose from 62 per cent in 2016 to near saturation by 2022, with PMUY accounting for a large share of that gain. The number of active domestic LPG consumers in India increased from 14.52 crore in April 2014 to 31.4 crore as of early 2023 — more than doubled.
| Metric | Before PMUY (2016) | After PMUY (2025-26) |
|---|---|---|
| India LPG penetration rate | ~62% | Near saturation (90%+) |
| Active domestic LPG consumers | 14.52 crore | 31.4 crore+ |
| PMUY connections released | 0 | 10.55 crore (May 2026) |
| Households using biomass fuel | ~10 crore | Significantly reduced |
| LPG connection in woman’s name | Rare | 10.55 crore women beneficiaries |
The health impact, while harder to quantify precisely, is significant. Reducing indoor air pollution from biomass combustion lowers the risk of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), pneumonia, and cardiovascular disease. Children in Ujjwala households have lower exposure to harmful particulate matter during early developmental years. Women who no longer walk hours collecting firewood have time that can be redirected to education, income work, or family care.
Challenges and Honest Limitations
PMUY has been celebrated internationally, but it also faces documented challenges that honest coverage must acknowledge. The most significant is the gap between connection uptake and sustained usage. Multiple surveys — including NFHS-5 data and academic assessments — have found that a substantial share of PMUY beneficiaries continue to use biomass as a supplementary or even primary fuel even after receiving an LPG connection. The reasons are primarily economic: the cost of a refill, even with the ₹300 subsidy, represents a significant proportion of a BPL household’s monthly income. Collecting firewood is free.
The recent reduction in the annual subsidised cylinder cap from 12 to 9 refills — without a corresponding reduction in cylinder prices — may exacerbate this challenge. The LPG price hike of June 2026, which raised the general cylinder price to ₹942 in Delhi, raised the Ujjwala price to ₹642. For a household earning ₹8,000–10,000 per month, nine cylinders at ₹642 each means an annual LPG expenditure of roughly ₹5,778 — a meaningful share of the annual budget.
The Persistent Usage Gap
Multiple independent surveys, including NFHS data and studies cited in academic literature, have found that a significant share of PMUY beneficiaries continue to use traditional biomass fuel alongside or instead of LPG. This “stacking” behaviour — using both fuels — is common where refill affordability is constrained. The scheme addresses the access barrier but does not fully resolve the affordability barrier to sustained usage.
Frequently Asked Questions
| Frequently Asked Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| Can a male family member apply for PMUY? | No. PMUY is exclusively for adult women aged 18 years or older. The LPG connection is issued only in the woman’s name, and male family members are not eligible to apply. |
| My family doesn’t have a ration card. Can we still apply? | Yes. Migrant workers can apply using a self-declaration of family composition and address. Additionally, applicants not covered under listed BPL categories may establish eligibility through a 14-point self-declaration form regarding their economic status. |
| How do I receive the ₹300 subsidy? When does it arrive? | The subsidy is transferred directly to the beneficiary’s Aadhaar-linked bank account through Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) after each eligible refill. It generally reaches the account within 2–5 working days, depending on the bank. |
| I am already a PMUY beneficiary, but my subsidy has stopped. What should I do? | In most cases, incomplete e-KYC is the reason. Visit your LPG distributor with your Aadhaar card for biometric verification. Also ensure your bank account is Aadhaar-linked and active. If the issue continues, contact the PMUY helpline at 1800-266-6696 (toll-free). |
| How many subsidised refills can I get per year in 2026? | Under the revised FY 2026–27 guidelines, PMUY beneficiaries are eligible for the ₹300 subsidy on a maximum of 9 LPG cylinder refills per year. Any refill beyond the ninth cylinder is charged at the full market rate without subsidy. |
| What is the official website to apply or check beneficiary status? | The official PMUY portal is pmuy.gov.in. Beneficiaries can also apply through the websites of Indane, Bharat Gas, and HP Gas, or complete e-KYC |
