The Indian central government reduced the number of subsidized LPG cylinder refills under the Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana from nine to four per year [1].
This policy change affects millions of low-income households that rely on the government scheme for affordable cooking fuel. The reduction significantly lowers the amount of financial support provided to the poorest citizens for their energy needs.
The government said the cut was necessary to prevent the diversion of subsidized LPG cylinders for commercial use [2]. Officials said the measure aims to ensure that subsidies reach the intended beneficiaries rather than being sold for profit in commercial markets [2].
Opposition parties, led by the Congress, criticized the decision. They said the move harms poor households and increases the financial burden on families already struggling with rising costs [1]. The opposition said that reducing the refill limit will force many families to return to using traditional, less healthy fuels for cooking [1].
The Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana was designed to provide clean cooking fuel to women and children in rural and poor urban areas. By limiting the subsidized refills to four per year [1], the government is tightening the eligibility and usage requirements of the program.
Critics of the move said that the government should focus on better monitoring and enforcement to stop commercial diversion instead of cutting benefits for the poor [1]. The clash between the Centre and the opposition highlights a broader debate over the balance between fiscal discipline and social welfare in India.
“The number of subsidised LPG cylinder refills under the Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana was reduced from nine per year to four per year.”
This policy shift represents a transition from a broad-based subsidy model to a more restrictive one, aimed at reducing government expenditure and curbing black-market leakages. However, by cutting the annual subsidy by more than half, the government risks undermining the public health goals of the Ujjwala scheme, as households may revert to biomass fuels, which are linked to respiratory illnesses.
