The Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana (PMUY) is a flagship social welfare scheme of the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas (MOPNG). It was launched on May 1, 2016, in Ballia, Uttar Pradesh, by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The scheme was created to solve the problem of serious health hazards and indoor air pollution caused by the use of traditional cooking fuels like firewood and coal in rural and deprived households. The use of these fuels was linked to non-communicable diseases and acute respiratory illnesses, disproportionately affecting women and children.
The scheme works by providing a deposit-free LPG connection to an adult woman from a poor household. The government provides financial support of ₹1600 per connection, which covers the security deposit for the cylinder, pressure regulator, and other fittings. Under the subsequent phase, Ujjwala 2.0, launched in August 2021, beneficiaries also receive the first LPG refill and a stove (hotplate) free of cost. Ujjwala 2.0 also introduced a special provision for migrant households to obtain a connection using a self-declaration instead of a Proof of Address and Ration Card.
The scheme connects to the broader goal of universal coverage of cooking gas, increasing LPG coverage from 62% in May 2016 to 99.8% by April 1, 2021. Recently, the government increased the targeted subsidy for PMUY beneficiaries to ₹300 per 14.2 kg LPG cylinder for up to 12 refills per year, effective from October 2023. The scheme replaced the earlier Rajiv Gandhi Gram LPG Vidarak Yojana (RGGLV) scheme, which was discontinued in 2015.