About Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana (PMUY)
- The Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana (PMUY) was launched in 2016 as a central sector scheme to provide deposit-free LPG connections to women in low-income households.
- Nodal Ministry: Ministry of Petroleum & Natural Gas (MoPNG)
- Implemented by: MoPNG in collaboration with Oil Marketing Companies (OMCs), and state governments.
- Objective: Ensure the availability of clean cooking fuels, lower indoor air pollution, and safeguard the health of women and children.
- It aims to replace the unclean cooking fuels mainly used in rural India with the clean and more efficient LPG (Liquefied Petroleum Gas).
- Cash Assistance: Under the scheme, cash assistance of Rs. 1600 for a connection for a 14.2kg cylinder or Rs. 1150 for a 5 kg cylinder is provided.
- Eligibility: Adult women without an LPG connection; priority for women from BPL, SC/ST, Antyodaya, SECC-listed households, forest dwellers, migrants (self-declaration), and island residents.
- Exclusions: Households with existing LPG connections from any Oil Marketing Company.
- Household with no adult female member.
- Male members from a household cannot apply for the scheme.
- Phases & Targets: Phase I (2016–2019) achieved 8 crore connections; Phase II (Ujjwala 2.0, 2021–22) added 1.6 crore, with further extensions till 2024.
Key Achievements
- Coverage: Over 10.33 crore LPG connections had been distributed under PMUY by March 2025.
- Continuous Usage: More than 238 crore subsidised cylinder refills were availed in nine years.
- Distributor Expansion: The LPG distributor network grew 83% by 2024, enhancing rural access.
Read More > Black Carbon & Role of PMUY
