At a glance
Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana, in four facts
Launched
1 May 2016, by PM Modi, at Ballia, Uttar Pradesh.
Who It Reaches
Adult women from BPL households, deposit-free LPG connections.
Scale
About 10.56 crore connections issued nationally, as of March 2026.
2026 Change
Subsidised cylinder quota cut to 4 a year, from 9 May.
On this page
A 2016 Launch at Ballia
1.1 When and where did PMUY actually launch?
PM Narendra Modi launched the Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana on 1 May 2016. The launch took place at Ballia, in Uttar Pradesh. The scheme gave deposit-free LPG connections to adult women from BPL households.
1.2 What target did the scheme set, and did it hit it?
The original target was 5 crore connections by March 2019. PMUY actually reached that target early, in just 28 months, by August 2018. The government then raised the target to 8 crore connections, which the scheme achieved by September 2019.
Q1. True or False: PMUY was launched by PM Modi on 1 May 2016, at Ballia in Uttar Pradesh.
Targeting the Woman of the House
2.1 In whose name is a PMUY connection issued?
Every PMUY connection is issued in the name of an adult woman in the household. This is a deliberate design choice, not an administrative default. It aims to put control over cooking fuel directly in women’s hands.
2.2 Why does this targeting choice matter?
Women and children usually bear the worst effects of indoor smoke from firewood and cow-dung cakes. Naming women as account holders also strengthens their standing within the household. It links PMUY to a broader push for women-centred welfare delivery, alongside schemes like PMJDY.
Q2. True or False: A PMUY connection can be issued in the name of any adult member of an eligible household, male or female.
Ujjwala 2.0 and a Wider Net
3.1 What was Ujjwala 2.0, and what did it fix?
The government launched Ujjwala 2.0 in August 2021. It targeted 1 crore additional connections, a number later raised to 1.6 crore. Ujjwala 2.0 specifically relaxed documentation rules for migrant workers, who often lack a fixed address proof.
3.2 Did Ujjwala 2.0 also hit its target?
Yes. Ujjwala 2.0 achieved its revised 1.6 crore target by December 2022. Together with the original phase, national LPG coverage rose from around 62% in April 2016 to near-saturation levels. As of March 2026, PMUY connections total roughly 10.56 crore nationally.
Q3. True or False: Ujjwala 2.0, launched in August 2021, eased documentation rules specifically for migrant workers.
The Subsidy, and Its 2026 Cut
4.1 How does the PMUY subsidy actually work?
The government introduced a targeted subsidy of ₹200 per cylinder in May 2022. It raised that amount to ₹300 per cylinder in October 2023. The subsidy is credited directly to the beneficiary’s bank account for each cylinder, not built into the retail price itself.
4.2 What changed to the cylinder quota in 2026?
PMUY originally allowed 12 subsidised cylinders a year. That quota was cut to 9 cylinders a year in 2025. On 9 June 2026, the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas cut it further, to just 4 cylinders a year. India has spent roughly ₹52,000 crore on these LPG subsidies since 2022.
Worth remembering: After the ₹300 subsidy, a PMUY beneficiary still pays around ₹642 for a cylinder priced at ₹942 in Delhi. That gap has narrowed sharply from the scheme’s early years.
Q4. True or False: As of the June 2026 policy change, a PMUY beneficiary can claim 9 subsidised cylinders a year.
A Structural Risk Underneath
5.1 Why does India’s LPG price keep moving?
India imports more than half of its total LPG requirement. Domestic LPG prices are pegged to the Saudi Contract Price, an international benchmark. That link means India’s retail cylinder price shifts with global energy markets, largely outside the government’s direct control.
5.2 Has the subsidy kept up with actual supply costs?
Government support currently works out to about ₹1,000 per cylinder. The estimated actual cost of supplying a cylinder runs closer to ₹1,600. That gap is one reason the quota cuts have drawn criticism, even as coverage numbers themselves keep climbing.
Q5. True or False: India imports more than half its LPG requirement, so domestic prices track the Saudi Contract Price benchmark.
Traps Worth Knowing Before Your Exam
6.1 How has UPSC actually tested this scheme?
UPSC CAPF (ACs) 2017 asked which statement about PMUY was NOT correct. The false option gave the launch year as 2015. The scheme actually launched in 2016. The other two options, the 5-crore target and the health and clean-fuel objective, were both correct.
6.2 What year and target-number traps should you watch for?
Examiners like testing the exact launch date, 1 May 2016, against wrong years like 2014 or 2015. They also swap the original 5-crore target with the later revised 8-crore target. Keep the two numbers, and the two phases they belong to, clearly separate.
- UPSC CAPF (ACs) 2017 Which statement about the Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana is NOT correct? See the full question →
Quick Q&A
When and where was PMUY launched?
1 May 2016, by PM Modi, at Ballia, Uttar Pradesh.
In whose name is a PMUY connection issued?
An adult woman in the eligible household, by design.
What did Ujjwala 2.0 specifically ease?
Documentation for migrant workers lacking a fixed address proof.
What is the current PMUY subsidy per cylinder?
₹300, credited directly to the beneficiary’s bank account.
What changed to the cylinder quota on 9 June 2026?
Cut to 4 subsidised cylinders a year, down from 9.
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