New Delhi: Domestic Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) consumers across India must now undergo Aadhaar biometric authentication to book subsidized refills. This new mandate, effective from October 1, is being implemented by the government to ensure that subsidized cooking gas reaches only intended and eligible households.
Information was available with The Chenab Times indicating that consumers who have already completed this authentication process will not be required to take any further action. As of September 19, approximately 27.43 crore active domestic LPG consumers, representing 89.9 percent of the total, had successfully completed the biometric Aadhaar authentication, according to the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas.
For those consumers who have not yet completed the authentication, the booking of subsidized refills will only be enabled once the process is finalized. The government has stated that this measure is designed to prevent the diversion of subsidized domestic LPG cylinders for commercial and industrial purposes and to eliminate duplicate or ineligible connections within the system.
Consumers have multiple options to complete the biometric authentication. This can be done at the time of LPG delivery, at their respective distributor’s showroom, or through the dedicated mobile applications provided by the three state-owned oil marketing companies: IndianOil ONE for Indane, HelloBPCL for Bharatgas, and HP PAY for HP Gas.
Individuals who are unwilling or unable to complete the biometric authentication will still be able to obtain LPG. However, these refills will be provided at the applicable market price, without any subsidy. Such consumers will need to register their choice to opt out of the subsidy through the digital channels of the oil marketing companies, which include their websites, mobile applications, WhatsApp chatbots, and Interactive Voice Response Systems (IVRS).
These consumers will be able to receive 5-kg or 10-kg cylinders, subject to local availability. The government had initially set a deadline of June 30 for the completion of biometric Aadhaar authentication. This deadline was subsequently extended multiple times to July 31, August 7, August 15, August 23, August 31, September 7, and finally September 14, to allow more consumers to comply with the directive.
The nationwide authentication drive has been actively ongoing since October 2023. During this period, oil marketing companies have disseminated information through more than 12 crore SMS and WhatsApp messages. Additionally, outreach efforts have been conducted via distributors, delivery personnel, special camps, IVRS prompts, and other communication channels to inform consumers about the process and its importance.
This latest directive follows the government’s significant fiscal support aimed at maintaining the affordability of domestic LPG for households. According to ministry data, the implicit subsidy for a 14.2-kg cylinder in September 2026 was approximately Rs 210, a notable decrease from Rs 721 recorded in June of the same year. The government allocated Rs 22,000 crore in compensation to public-sector oil marketing companies for domestic LPG under-recoveries in the fiscal year 2022-23. For the fiscal years 2025-26 and 2026-27, an allocation of Rs 30,000 crore is being provided annually.
Despite this substantial government assistance, the accumulated under-recoveries on domestic LPG for state-owned oil marketing companies had surpassed Rs 62,000 crore as of August 31, 2026. The mandatory authentication requirement from October 1 effectively distinguishes between subsidized LPG and market-priced LPG. For eligible households, completing the Aadhaar biometric authentication before booking their next refill is crucial to retain access to the regulated subsidized price.
The stated objective of the government and the oil marketing companies is to enhance the targeting of subsidy delivery and reduce instances of leakage by ensuring that each subsidized connection is definitively linked to an Aadhaar-authenticated consumer. The government has reiterated its appeal to the remaining consumers to complete their authentication process before October 1, utilizing the available online, distributor, or delivery-based channels. Consumers can also reach out to the LPG services helpline at 1800 2333 555 for assistance.
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The Chenab Times News Desk
