New Delhi, August 29, 2023: In a strategic move ahead of the upcoming elections, the Union Cabinet has given its nod to a substantial reduction in the prices of LPG gas cylinders, amounting to a Rs 200 reduction for all connection holders.
In addition to this, the Cabinet has also greenlit a proposal to provide 75 lakh new LPG cylinder connections under the Ujjwala scheme. This decision significantly expands the total number of beneficiaries to exceed 10 crore people across the nation. Information and Broadcasting Minister Anurag Thakur conveyed this information to the media following the Cabinet briefing.
Presently, the cost of domestic LPG, commonly used in kitchens for cooking, stands at Rs 1,103 per 14.2-kg cylinder in New Delhi. With this decision, consumers can now expect a Rs 200 reduction per cylinder. The last revision in domestic LPG cylinder prices was implemented on March 1 when prices were increased by Rs 50 per cylinder.
This decision aligns with the backdrop of Assembly elections scheduled in four states in December, with Lok Sabha polls slated for next year. Oil marketing companies (OMCs) have been grappling with significant under-recoveries due to the lack of adjustments in domestic cooking gas prices.
Under the Ujjwala scheme, the government has been extending free LPG connections to women beneficiaries in rural households. These beneficiaries are already entitled to a Rs 200 subsidy, and now, an additional Rs 200 reduction will be provided to all domestic LPG connection holders, as stated by Minister Thakur.
Furthermore, Thakur noted that the new connections are being extended to beneficiaries who have been newly added due to events such as girls’ marriages and the issuance of new ration cards.
