PM Ujjwala Yojana: Objective, Features, and Current Status

Context: 

Recently, the Union Cabinet approved the continuation of Rs.300 targeted subsidy to PM Ujjwala Yojana Consumers.

PM Ujjwala Yojana FY 2024-25 Highlights

• Provision: Up to 12 refills per year will be provided to PM Ujjwala Yojana (PMUY) beneficiaries during FY 2024-25.  
  • Direct to Bank: The subsidy is credited directly to the bank accounts of the eligible beneficiaries.
• Total Expenditure: Rs.12,000 crore for 2024-25.  

About PM Ujjwala Yojana (PMUY)

• Launched: In May 2016
• Nodal Ministry: Ministry of Petroleum & Natural Gas.
• Aim: To make Liquified Petroleum Gas (LPG), a clean cooking fuel, available to rural and deprived poor households and to provide deposit-free LPG connections to adult women of poor households. 
• Implementation:
  • Phase 1: The scheme was launched on 1st May 2016. The target under the scheme was to release 8 Crore LPG Connections to the deprived households by March 2020. 
  • Phase 2: Under the Union Budget for FY 21-22, provision for releasing additional 1 Crore LPG connections under the PMUY scheme has been made. In this phase, special facilities have been provided for migrant families.
• Current Status OF PM Ujjwala Yojana: As of 1st March 2024 there are more than 10.27 crore PMUY beneficiaries.
• Fluctuation of LPG Prices & Subsidy by the Government:
  • Imported by India: India imports about 60% of its LPG requirement. 
  • For Consumers’ Protection: To protect PMUY beneficiaries from the impact of sharp fluctuations in international prices of LPG and to make LPG more affordable to PMUY consumers, the Government started a targeted subsidy in 2022, further increasing in October 2023. 

• Target Beneficiaries Under the PM Ujjwala Yojana

• • Adult women belonging to the following categories, are eligible beneficiaries under the expanded scheme.
  • SC Households
  • ST Households
  • Most Backward Classes
  • Antyodaya Anna Yojana (AAY)
  • Tea and Ex-Tea Garden tribes.
  • Forest Dwellers
  • People residing in Islands and River Islands
  • Release of LPG connection under this Scheme shall be in the name of the women belonging to the BPL family.

PM Ujjwala Yojana: Benefits to Citizens

• Cash Assistance: It is provided for PMUY connections by the Government of India – Rs. 1600 (for a connection of 14.2kg cylinder/ Rs. 1150 for a 5 kg cylinder). 
• LPF Refill: All PMUY beneficiaries will be provided with the first LPG refill and Stove, free of cost, along with their deposit-free connection by the Oil Marketing Companies (OMCs).
• Subsidy: For the year 2023-24, the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs has approved a subsidy of Rs. 200 per 14.2 kg cylinder for up to 12 refills per year to be provided to the beneficiaries of Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana (PMUY).
• High Inclusion: Average LPG consumption of PMUY consumers has increased by 29% from 3.01 refills in 2019-20 to 3.87 refills (till January 2024) pro-rated for 2023-24. 
• Eligibility: All PMUY beneficiaries are eligible for this targeted subsidy. 

News Source: PIB

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