Big setback for Ujjwala Yojana beneficiaries: Now, instead of 9 subsidized cylinders, they will receive only 4—find out the reason..

Beneficiaries of the Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana have faced a setback. On Monday, the Central Government reduced the number of subsidized gas cylinders available to Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana (PMUY) beneficiaries. Now, only four subsidized cylinders will be provided annually instead of nine. When the Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana was launched in May 2016, beneficiaries received 12 subsidized 14.2 kg LPG cylinders per year. This number was later reduced to nine and has now been further cut to four.

**Subsidy under Ujjwala Yojana limited to just 4 cylinders**
Praveen Mal Khanuja, Additional Secretary in the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas, stated that this new decision was taken after considering the average annual gas consumption of the people. The government believes that most Ujjwala Yojana beneficiaries use, on average, this many cylinders per year. In May 2022, the government introduced a special subsidy to promote clean fuel and make gas more affordable. Under this scheme, a subsidy of ₹200 was provided on every 14.2 kg LPG cylinder, credited directly to the beneficiaries' bank accounts after each refill. Later, in October 2023, this amount was increased to ₹300 per cylinder. A proportionate benefit was also extended to smaller 5 kg cylinders. The recent decision to reduce the number of subsidized cylinders comes at a time when LPG prices are frequently rising.

**What are the new rules?**
**Subsidy of ₹300 to continue** – Beneficiaries will continue to receive a subsidy of ₹300 per cylinder on the first four cylinders of the year. This amount will be transferred directly to their bank accounts via Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT).

**Price** – After the subsidy, beneficiaries will have to pay ₹642 per cylinder for the first four cylinders (based on the current Delhi price of ₹942).

**Full price from the 5th cylinder onwards** – Once a beneficiary books the fifth cylinder (or any subsequent one) in a year, they will have to pay the full price without any subsidy. In Delhi, the price of a 14.2 kg LPG cylinder has risen twice over the last three months, resulting in a total increase of ₹89. Following the latest hike on June 7, the price now stands at ₹942 per cylinder. However, beneficiaries of the Ujjwala Yojana (PMUY) receive the cylinder for ₹642 after a subsidy of ₹300. According to official Praveen Mal Khanuja, adjustments to the number of subsidized cylinders have been made based on average consumption patterns.

**Government Explains the Reason**
According to the government, the supply cost of a single cylinder is approximately ₹1,600, while a beneficiary receives total assistance amounting to around ₹1,000. Regarding the ₹29 price hike on June 7, it was noted that this increase amounts to only about ₹1 per day. It was stated that for a family of five, this cost works out to roughly 20 paise per person daily. Khanuja also mentioned that while international gas prices have risen due to events in the Middle East, domestic gas prices in India remain lower than those in many other countries.

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