Why is it in the news?

• Recently, the Union Cabinet has decided to increase the LPG subsidy for Ujjwala beneficiaries to ₹300 per cylinder. This additional subsidy of ₹100 benefits 9.6 crore Ujjwala beneficiaries.

Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana (PMUY)

About

• Launched by the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas (MOPNG) in 2016.
• Aims to provide clean cooking fuel (LPG) to rural and deprived households.
• Addresses the use of traditional cooking fuels like firewood, coal, cow-dung cakes, etc.
• Aims to improve the health of rural women and reduce environmental impact.

Objectives

• Empower women and protect their health.
• Reduce deaths in India due to unclean cooking fuel.
• Prevent acute respiratory illnesses in children due to indoor air pollution.

Features

• Provides financial support of Rs 1600 for each LPG connection to BPL households.
• Offers a deposit-free LPG connection.
• Provides the first refill and a hotplate free of cost to beneficiaries.

Benefits

• Eligible beneficiaries receive a free LPG connection.
• Subsidy on the first six refills of 14.2 kg cylinders or eight refills of 5 kg cylinders.
• Option for EMI facility for stove and first refill costs.
• Option to join the PAHAL scheme for direct subsidy transfer to bank accounts.

Phases

Phase I (May 1, 2016)

• Target: Release 8 Crore LPG Connections by March 2020.
• Result: LPG coverage increased from 62% (May 2016) to 99.8% (April 2021).

Ujjwala 2.0:

• Additional 1 crore LPG connections targeted by March 31, 2022.
• Achievement: Additional 1.6 Crore LPG Connections released by December 2022.