Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana (PMUY) – Access to LPG (cooking gas) connection subsidy

Digital ID is used to verify eligibility and authenticate beneficiaries for subsidized liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) connections under India’s clean cooking fuel program. The Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas launched Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana (PMUY) in 2016. PMUY provides free or subsidized LPG connections to women from Below Poverty Line (BPL) households. It replaces traditional biomass cooking fuels, such as firewood, coal, and dung cakes, with clean cooking gas to improve health outcomes and reduce indoor air pollution. Aadhaar serves as the primary identity document for applicants who seek LPG connections, and applicants must provide their Aadhaar cards to verify their eligibility as members of poor households. The scheme uses Aadhaar-based authentication to prevent duplicate connections and ensure subsidies reach intended beneficiaries. It transfers cooking gas subsidies directly into beneficiaries’ Aadhaar-linked bank accounts through direct benefit transfer (DBT). As of 2024, more than 55% of PMUY beneficiaries have completed biometric Aadhaar authentication. The government conducted significant biometric authentication drives during the campaigns, where more than 3.5 million PMUY beneficiaries successfully completed Aadhaar authentication. The Aadhaar integration has increased accuracy, eliminated ghost beneficiaries, enabled efficient subsidy delivery, and supported India’s energy transition and women’s health objectives.