Industry Odisha Bureau, Sep 20: From October 1, domestic LPG consumers need biometric Aadhaar authentication for subsidised refills. Around 27.43 crore consumers have already completed it. Others can still buy LPG at market price.
From October 1, 2026, domestic LPG consumers need biometric Aadhaar authentication (BAA). It applies to refills booked at the regulated price with subsidy. Consumers without BAA can still buy LPG. They pay the market price, without subsidy.
LPG Aadhaar Authentication Starts October 1
The Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas (MoPNG) announced the requirement. It covers consumers who get domestic LPG below market rates. Booking at the regulated Retail Selling Price (RSP) with subsidy needs completed BAA.
The ministry says the measure targets diversion of subsidised cylinders. It also aims to remove duplicate and ineligible connections. In its words, subsidy should reach “genuine and deserving households”. These are the ministry’s stated aims.
Consumers Without BAA Can Still Buy LPG
The rule changes subsidy access, not LPG availability. Consumers unwilling or unable to authenticate can still receive LPG. They must register that choice with their oil marketing company (OMC).
Registration works through digital channels. These include web portals, apps, WhatsApp chatbots and IVRS. Such consumers get 5 kg or 10 kg cylinders. Supply is subject to local OMC availability.
Nearly 90% Complete LPG Biometric Verification
India has more than 32.70 crore domestic LPG consumers. That includes over 10.50 crore PM Ujjwala Yojana (PMUY) beneficiaries. About 27.43 crore consumers had authenticated by September 19. That is 89.9% of the total.
LPG Subsidy Shows Cost of Price Support
The implicit subsidy was about ₹210 per 14.2 kg cylinder in September. It reached ₹721 in June 2026. The gap shows how support needs can change.
The ministry gave a June Delhi example. A PMUY beneficiary paid ₹642 per 14.2 kg cylinder. The market price was over ₹1,600. A general consumer paid ₹942. These are historical figures, not current prices.
OMC Under-Recoveries Exceed ₹62,000 Crore
The government paid OMCs ₹22,000 crore in compensation in FY23. It is paying ₹30,000 crore across FY26 and FY27. Public-sector OMCs still had accumulated under-recoveries above ₹62,000 crore. That was as of August 31, 2026. Under-recoveries are not the same as losses.
Multiple Aadhaar Authentication Deadlines Were Extended
Consumers were first asked to authenticate by June 20. The deadline was extended several times. The last extension ran to September 14.
Subsidy Access, Not Supply, Is the Issue
BAA now decides who gets subsidised domestic LPG. Unauthenticated consumers keep a market-price option. The policy changes subsidy access, not LPG availability itself.
