In a welcome development for consumers, the Union Cabinet took decisive action on Tuesday by announcing a ₹200 reduction in the cost of a 14.2 kg LPG cooking gas cylinder. This announcement, which coincides with the upcoming Raksha Bandhan festival, can be seen as a thoughtful gesture towards women. The decision arrives at a crucial juncture as the Central Government grapples with mounting public dissatisfaction concerning the surge in inflation rates.
Union Information and Broadcasting Minister Anurag Thakur said, “On the occasion of Raksha Bandhan and Onam, the government has decided to reduce the price of domestic cylinders by ₹200. This is a gift from PM Narendra Modi to the women of the country.”
The reduction in price is not limited solely to the general populace, as it extends its benefits to beneficiaries enrolled in the Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana (PMUY), a crucial initiative aimed at providing cleaner cooking fuel to underprivileged households.
In the current scenario, the cost of a 14.2 kg LPG cylinder in the national capital stands at ₹1,103. However, with the implementation of the revised pricing structure starting Wednesday, this cost will see a significant drop to ₹903. For those who are part of the PM’s Ujjwala scheme, the price will be further reduced to a mere ₹703. It is worth noting that in the month of March, the government had already extended a ₹200 per LPG cylinder subsidy exclusively under the PM Ujjwala scheme.
Divulging additional noteworthy measures, Minister Thakur revealed, “The government is committed to expanding the benefits of the Ujjwala scheme by providing an additional 75 lakh new LPG connections free of cost.” At the present moment, the scheme boasts an impressive 9.6 crore beneficiaries, underscoring its significance in improving access to clean cooking fuel.
This recent price adjustment comes against the backdrop of a previous upward revision in July, where oil marketing companies raised the cost of domestic LPG cylinders by ₹50. This hike followed two prior increases in the month of May, adding to the financial strain faced by consumers.
The inception of the subsidy for PMUY beneficiaries dates back to May of the preceding year. It was introduced by the government as part of a comprehensive series of relief measures aimed at alleviating the impact of escalating global energy prices.
