PMUY

Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana (PMUY) is an Indian government program launched on 1 May 2016 by the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas. The scheme aims to provide clean cooking fuel to low-income households by supplying LPG connections in the name of the female head of the household, thereby reducing indoor air pollution and empowering women.

Eligible households, particularly those identified as below the poverty line or in economically weaker sections, are issued a new LPG connection under PMUY. Applicants must not already own an LPG connection. The scheme is implemented through the public sector oil marketing companies (IOCL, BPCL, HPCL) and their network of distributors. The government covers the upfront cost of the connection and basic safety equipment, while ongoing subsidies for LPG cylinders are delivered to beneficiaries via the Direct Benefit Transfer mechanism.

PMUY has significantly expanded LPG coverage among rural and urban poor households and broader segments over time. The program has been supplemented by PMUY 2.0, which broadened eligibility and aimed to sustain access to clean cooking fuel while continuing to promote women’s participation and safe usage.

The initiative is part of wider efforts to transition households from solid fuels to liquefied petroleum gas, with ongoing attention to supply stability, affordability, and the household economics of continued LPG use.