Petroleum ministry clarifies e-KYC rules for LPG consumers amid supply concerns

India currently has more than 330 million LPG users, including over 105.1 million beneficiaries under the Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana (PMUY)

• Biometric e-KYC needed only for LPG users yet to complete it
• PMUY users must do e-KYC yearly for targeted subsidies
• LPG supply not affected by incomplete e-KYC verification

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Amid confusion over Aadhaar-based verification for cooking gas users, the Union petroleum ministry on Tuesday said that biometric e-KYC is required only for those LPG consumers who have not yet completed the process. The clarification comes at a time when reports of shortages, linked to tensions in West Asia, have triggered long queues at distribution points in several cities.

In a social media statement, the ministry said that the recent communication was not a new directive but part of an ongoing push to streamline beneficiary identification. “THIS IS NOT A FRESH DIRECTION. The recent post by the ministry is a part of the ongoing efforts of the Government to encourage more LPG consumers to complete biometric Aadhaar authentication,” it said.

India currently has more than 330 million LPG users, including over 105.1 million beneficiaries under the Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana (PMUY). The ministry clarified that customers outside the PMUY category who have already completed their verification need not repeat it.

“The requirement of eKYC applies to those LPG consumers who have not done eKYC so far. If you are a non-PMUY customer and have done it before, you don’t need to do it again,” the statement noted.

For PMUY users, however, the process has a limited recurring requirement. According to the ministry, “PMUY customers need to do it only once every financial year, that too only for receiving targeted DBT subsidies after 7 refills i.e. on 8th and 9th refill.”

It also underlined that the authentication process is simple and accessible. “eKYC can be done easily sitting at home, free of cost. Supply of refills is not affected in any case.”

Clarification: LPG Biometric Aadhaar Authentication (eKYC) only required for unauthenticated LPG customers and not all customers Some news reports have been circulating on the issue of biometric aadhaar authentication for LPG consumers. In this regard it’s clarified that THIS… https://t.co/RlwRCuhPcO

— Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas #MoPNG (@PetroleumMin) March 17, 2026

Earlier messaging had created some confusion after a March 15 post suggested that all domestic LPG users must undergo biometric authentication. The latest clarification seeks to narrow that interpretation and reassure consumers that access to cylinders will not be disrupted due to incomplete verification.

The government has been extending financial support to make LPG more affordable. Minister of state for petroleum Suresh Gopi informed Parliament that a subsidy of Rs 300 per cylinder is being provided for up to nine refills annually during 2025-26.

He also highlighted compensation support extended to oil marketing companies, including Rs 22,000 crore in 2022-23 and an approved Rs 30,000 crore for 2025-26.

Public sector companies such as Indian Oil, Bharat Petroleum, and Hindustan Petroleum dominate the LPG retail market. Following a recent Rs 60 increase, the price of a 14.2 kg cylinder stands at Rs 913 in Delhi. For eligible PMUY households, after subsidy, the effective cost comes down to Rs 613.

The ministry said that the verification exercise aims to improve system efficiency. It said eKYC “ensures transparency, establishes clear eligibility, weeds out ghost consumers and discourages diversion of LPG.”