From October 1, domestic LPG consumers in India will require biometric Aadhaar verification to continue availing subsidised refills, a move aimed at improving subsidy targeting and curbing misuse.
From October 1, domestic LPG customers in India will need biometric Aadhaar authentication to keep receiving refills at the regulated price with any applicable subsidy, the Petroleum and Natural Gas Ministry has said. The move is meant to tighten subsidy targeting, with the government saying it wants to ensure support reaches genuine households and to curb duplicate connections and the diversion of subsidised cooking gas for commercial use.
The ministry said 27.43 crore active domestic LPG consumers, or 89.9% of the base, had already completed biometric authentication by September 19. Households that have done so will not face any disruption. Those that have not will see subsidised bookings paused until the verification is completed.
Consumers can finish the process at the time of LPG delivery, at distributor showrooms or through the relevant oil company’s mobile app. IndianOil ONE is available for Indane users, HelloBPCL for Bharatgas customers and HP PAY for HP Gas users. The ministry has also pointed consumers to video guidance on the Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana portal.
Those who do not complete biometric Aadhaar authentication will still be able to buy domestic LPG, but only at the market price and without subsidy. The gas will be supplied in 5 kg or 10 kg cylinders, subject to availability, and consumers may need to register their choice through oil marketing company portals, apps, WhatsApp chatbots or interactive voice response systems. A national helpline, 1800 2333 555, has been set up for assistance.
The step follows several deadline extensions. The original cut-off of June 30 was pushed back repeatedly as the government and state-run oil firms expanded awareness drives, including SMS and WhatsApp alerts, door-to-door visits and special verification camps. The tighter checking comes as domestic LPG remains sold below cost to soften the impact of international energy prices. The implicit subsidy was about ₹210 per 14.2 kg cylinder in September, down from ₹721 in June, while under-recoveries at public-sector oil marketing companies had crossed ₹62,000 crore by August 31, according to the figures cited by the ministry.
Disclaimer: This article is intended to inform and educate, not to recommend or endorse any financial product, investment or strategy. Please consider your own financial circumstances and seek professional advice where appropriate before making financial decisions.
