The Centre will distribute 2.5 million free LPG connections under the Ujjwala Yojana this Navratri, benefiting women nationwide.
New Delhi
The Indian government will provide 2.5 million free LPG connections under the Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana (PMUY) this Navratri, Union Minister for Petroleum and Natural Gas Hardeep Singh Puri announced on Monday. With this expansion, the total number of Ujjwala beneficiaries will reach 106 million families nationwide.
Each connection, costing the government Rs 2,050, includes a gas stove, regulator, LPG cylinder, and other essential accessories. Puri described the initiative as a Navratri gift for women, emphasizing Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s commitment to honoring women’s empowerment. “This decision reinforces our dedication to the respect and upliftment of mothers and sisters,” he noted in a post on X.
Highlighting the transformative impact of Ujjwala, Puri said the scheme has not only made kitchens smoke-free but also improved the health and quality of life for millions of women and their families. “It is more than a scheme; it has become a torch of a massive revolution reaching even the remotest corners of the country,” he added.
The Minister also referenced the Union Cabinet’s recent decision to provide a Rs 300 subsidy on LPG refills for over 10.33 crore Ujjwala families, making cylinders available at Rs 553 — cheaper than prices in many LPG-producing countries.
Launched in May 2016, PMUY provides deposit-free LPG connections to women from economically weaker households. Under Ujjwala 2.0, beneficiaries also receive the first refill and stove free of cost, reinforcing the scheme’s role in women’s empowerment and healthier living conditions across India.
