New Delhi: The Centre has announced the release of 25 lakh additional LPG connections under the Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana (PMUY) during the ongoing financial year, calling it a Navratri gift for women beneficiaries.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi congratulated those joining the Ujjwala family. “Through this step of ours, not only will they experience new joy on this sacred festival, but our commitments to women’s empowerment will also gain further strength,” he said in response to a post on X.
Petroleum and Natural Gas Minister Hardeep Singh Puri said the expansion would increase the number of Ujjwala beneficiaries to 10.6 crore families. “With the auspicious beginning of Navratri, the gift of 2.5 million new free PM Ujjwala connections is yet another proof that Prime Minister Narendra Modi honours women just like Goddess Durga. This decision further strengthens our resolve for the respect and empowerment of mothers and sisters,” Puri wrote.
According to Puri, the government will spend Rs 2,050 on each connection, which includes the cost of an LPG cylinder, stove, regulator and related equipment. He described Ujjwala as both a symbol of empowerment and a source of transformation. “Ujjwala has not only made kitchens smoke-free but also improved the health and lives of millions of women and their families. It is not just a scheme; it has become a torch of a massive revolution, whose flame has reached every corner of the nation, even remote areas,” he said.
He also referred to the Union Cabinet’s recent decision to provide a subsidy of Rs 300 on LPG refills for over 10.33 crore Ujjwala families. With this support, cylinders are available at Rs 553, which he noted is lower than the price in several LPG-producing countries.
Launched in May 2016, PMUY provides deposit-free LPG connections to women from low-income households. Under Ujjwala 2.0, beneficiaries also receive a free stove and the first cylinder refill.
BI Bureau
