Ujjwala cooking gas subsidies may run for yet another year

The Union government may extend cooking gas subsidies provided under a flagship government scheme for another year, two people aware of the matter said. Currently, about 100 million beneficiaries of the Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana (PMUY) get a subsidy of 1300 per LPG cylinder, which is scheduled to end in March this year.

- Rituraj Baruah

"An extension in the subsidy for the next fiscal is likely to be sought. The outgo will be in the range of 10,000-12,000 crore," one of the two people mentioned above said, adding the petroleum and natural gas ministry is set to suggest the extension to the finance ministry. for the upcoming Union budget.

Queries sent to the spokespeople of the petroleum and finance ministries remained unanswered till press time.

On 4 October, the subsidy was increased from ₹200 to ₹300 per cylinder for up to 12 cylinders annually. A price cut of 200 per cylinder was also announced earlier on 30 August. In the national capital, PMUY beneficiaries now pay ₹603 per (domestic) cylinder of cooking gas, while others pay 1903.