The Indian government has introduced mandatory biometric Aadhaar authentication for domestic LPG consumers using subsidised cylinders, aiming to curb diversion and ensure aid reaches genuine households.
India’s petroleum ministry has ordered a fresh round of identity checks for domestic LPG customers, saying biometric Aadhaar authentication will be required from 1 October for subsidised refills. The government said the step is intended to ensure that subsidised cylinders reach genuine households and to curb duplicate, ineligible or diverted connections. According to a press release from the Press Information Bureau, 27.43 crore consumers, or 89.9%, had already completed authentication and would not need to do anything further. (pib.gov.in)
The change affects the booking of domestic cylinders at the regulated retail selling price with subsidy attached. Consumers who have not yet completed authentication are being urged to do so before the deadline if they want to continue receiving the concessional rate. The ministry said the process is available at the time of delivery, at a distributor’s showroom, or through oil marketing company mobile applications, including app-based face authentication. (pib.gov.in)
The move has been presented as part of a broader tightening of subsidy controls rather than a cut-off of supply. News On AIR reported that the government said the intention is not to deny LPG to genuine users, but to prevent subsidised cylinders from being channelled into commercial or industrial use and to remove duplicate or ineligible accounts. Earlier reporting by The Indian Express and Moneycontrol said consumers who miss the deadline may still be able to receive LPG, but at the full market price rather than with subsidy. (newsonair.gov.in)
The ministry’s announcement comes amid wider scrutiny of how LPG is booked, tracked and delivered. Indian media reports have also described tighter controls on refill intervals and delivery verification, including the use of one-time codes to confirm handover, although the clearest official change confirmed so far is the biometric authentication requirement for subsidised domestic refills from 1 October. For households that rely on LPG every day, the practical message is simple: complete the authentication before the deadline or risk losing the subsidy, even if the connection itself remains active. (indianexpress.com)
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