The Government of India has approved the release of 25 lakh additional free LPG connections for poor women under the Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana (PMUY) this financial year, the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas said on Monday.
With this expansion, the total number of Ujjwala connections will now rise to 10.58 crore across the country.
For the new connections, the government has approved an expenditure of ₹676 crore. This includes ₹512.5 crore for providing the 25 lakh deposit-free connections at ₹2,050 per connection, ₹160 crore for the subsidy of ₹300 per LPG cylinder (up to nine refills per year), and ₹3.5 crore for project management and other costs.
Under PMUY, women beneficiaries get a deposit-free LPG connection covering the cost of the cylinder, regulator, safety hose, DGCC booklet, and installation charges. Along with this, the first refill and a stove are also given free of cost.
Beneficiaries can choose between a 14.2 kg single cylinder, a 5 kg single cylinder, or a 5 kg double cylinder connection.
The process has been made technology-enabled and transparent. Eligible women from poor households without an existing LPG connection can apply online or at any LPG distributor of public sector oil companies with a simple KYC form and declaration.
Launched in May 2016, the Ujjwala scheme initially targeted 8 crore households, which was achieved by September 2019. Later, Ujjwala 2.0 was launched in 2021 to cover more families, and till July 2025, over 10.33 crore connections had already been provided.
Union Petroleum Minister Hardeep Singh Puri said the new decision comes ahead of Navratri and is a symbol of respect for women, comparing it to the honour given to Goddess Durga. He added, “Ujjwala has transformed kitchens, protected women’s health, and brightened the future of families across India.”
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