The Union Cabinet has approved, the release of 75 lakh LPG connections over three years,the extension of Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana (PMUY) for from Financial Year 2023-24 to 2025-26. It will take total number of PMUY beneficiaries to 10.35 crore.

As per the existing modalities of Ujjawala 2.0, the first refill and stove will also be provided free of cost to Ujjwala beneficiaries.A targeted subsidy of Rs.200 per 14.2 kg LPG cylinder for upto 12 refills per year is being provided to PMUY consumers.

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Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana (PMUY)

The Government has launched “Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana”(PMUY) for providing LPG connections to 5 crore women belonging to the Below Poverty Line (BPL) families over a period of 3 years starting from FY 2016-17. The objective of the scheme is to provide clean cooking fuel solutions to poor households, especially in rural areas. The use of fossil fuels and conventional fuels like cow dung, kerosene, biomass, etc. has serious implications for the health of rural women and children. The use of LPG as a cooking fuel helps in effectively addressing health hazards associated with the use of conventional sources of cooking fuels. The Salient features of the PMUY Scheme are as under :-

1. LPG connection is released in the name of adult woman of the BPL family, subject to the condition that no LPG connection exists in the name of any family member of the household.
2. Eligible families are identified through the Socio-Economic Caste Census(SECC) list.
3. The scheme covers the cash assistance up to Rs 1600/- for providing new LPG connection and this cash assistance is provided by the Central Government.
4. The customer bears the cost of the Hot Plate and purchase of the first refill. The customers have the option to take Hot Plate on the purchase of the first refill or both on a loan basis from OMCs at zero interest and the same is recovered through EMIs.

The scheme will protect the health of the women (as they will escape the burden of indoor; pollution due to firewood) and their families, it also indirectly the saved the health maintenance costs for the individual, and their family.

With access to a clean fuel, the scheme will help in tackling environmental pollution

The scheme will help in arresting deforestation.