The Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana (PMUY) is a flagship social welfare scheme introduced by the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas (MOPNG) in May 2016. The scheme was launched on May 1, 2016, in Ballia, Uttar Pradesh, by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The primary objective was to solve the problem of health issues and environmental degradation caused by the use of traditional cooking fuels like firewood, coal, and cow-dung cakes in rural and deprived households. The use of these fuels was a major contributor to household air pollution, which is linked to respiratory illnesses and other non-communicable diseases.
The scheme works by providing a deposit-free Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) connection to adult women from poor households. The government provides financial support of ₹1,600 for each connection to cover the security deposit for the cylinder, pressure regulator, safety hose, and other fittings. The initial target was to distribute 50 million LPG connections, which was later expanded to 8 crore connections by March 2020. This target was achieved ahead of schedule in September 2019.
The scheme has been amended and expanded, notably with the launch of Ujjwala 2.0 in August 2021. Ujjwala 2.0 aimed to cover the remaining poor households and provided the first LPG refill and the hotplate (stove) free of cost, in addition to the deposit-free connection. A key provision in Ujjwala 2.0 allows migrant families to apply using a self-declaration as proof of address, simplifying the documentation process. The government has also increased the targeted subsidy for PMUY beneficiaries to ₹300 per 14.2 kg cylinder for up to nine refills per year. The scheme is connected to the broader goal of increasing national LPG coverage, which rose from 62% in May 2016 to 99.8% as of April 1, 2021. As of March 1, 2025, the total number of PMUY connections stands at 10.33 crore.