PM Ujjwala Yojana 2026: Free LPG Connection for Women — Who Gets It, How to Apply & How to Claim the ₹300 Subsidy
By C. Thiruvenkatam | Daily Hind News | 30 May 2026
Think about what cooking on wood or cow dung means for a woman who does it every single day. The smoke. The eye irritation. The hours spent collecting fuel. The respiratory problems that build quietly over years. PM Ujjwala Yojana was built to end exactly that — not as a convenience upgrade, but as a genuine health and dignity intervention for millions of Indian women.
As of May 2026, over 10.55 crore connections have been released under the scheme, with an additional 25 lakh new connections recently approved. If your household is eligible and still cooking on traditional fuel — this guide gives you everything you need to apply, get connected, and claim your monthly subsidy. careers360
What Exactly Does Ujjwala Yojana Give You
Many women assume the scheme only provides a gas cylinder. The reality is more complete than that.
Under PM Ujjwala Yojana 2.0, every eligible applicant receives:
- One free LPG connection — registered in the woman’s name
- First refill free — the initial cylinder is provided at no cost
- A gas stove (hotplate) — included with the connection
- Monthly subsidy — ₹300 per 14.2 kg cylinder through Direct Benefit Transfer for up to 12 refills annually careers360
- Safety hose and regulator — all fittings included
The connection is registered in the woman’s name — not the husband’s, not the father’s. This is deliberate. It gives women direct ownership of an asset and direct receipt of the subsidy amount.
Who Is Eligible — The Complete List
Eligibility has two hard requirements that apply universally: the applicant must be a woman aged 18 or above, and no LPG connection should exist in the household already — in any family member’s name.
Beyond that, your household must fall into one of these categories:
| Eligible Category | Details |
|---|---|
| BPL (Below Poverty Line) families | Identified via SECC 2011 or state BPL list |
| SC / ST households | Scheduled Caste or Scheduled Tribe families |
| PMAY Gramin beneficiaries | Families who received housing under rural housing scheme |
| Antyodaya Anna Yojana (AAY) cardholders | Poorest of the poor ration card holders |
| Forest dwellers | Tribal families in forest areas |
| Tea garden workers | Families working on tea estates |
| Most Backward Classes (MBC) | As classified by state governments |
| Migrant families | The revamped plan now gives the choice of applying using a self-declaration for select migrants PW Live who cannot produce address documents |
What disqualifies you:
- An LPG connection already exists in any family member’s name
- The applicant is under 18 years of age
- The family does not fall into any eligible category listed above
PRO TIP: Many women assume they are not eligible because they do not have a BPL card. Check all categories carefully — PMAY Gramin beneficiaries, AAY cardholders, and SC/ST households are often overlooked. If your family received a house under PM Awas Yojana Gramin, you likely qualify.
Documents You Need Before Applying
The document list is deliberately kept simple. You do not need income certificates or lengthy paperwork.
Mandatory for all applicants:
- Aadhaar card of the applicant woman — original and photocopy
- Ration card of the family — showing the applicant’s name
- Bank account details — passbook or cancelled cheque (the ₹300 subsidy comes here)
- Passport-size photograph — recent, white background
- Completed KYC form — available at the LPG distributor or downloadable from pmuy.gov.in
Additional for specific categories:
| Category | Extra Document |
|---|---|
| SC/ST households | Caste certificate |
| Forest dwellers | Forest department-issued residency proof |
| Migrant families | Self-declaration form in lieu of address proof |
| PMAY beneficiaries | PM Awas Yojana sanction letter |
IMPORTANT: Your bank account must be in the applicant woman’s name — not jointly with husband or parent. The DBT subsidy goes directly to this account. If you do not have a personal bank account, open one at your nearest bank or Post Office before applying. Jan Dhan accounts work perfectly for this purpose.
How to Apply Online — Step by Step
In the new process, applicants can select distributors online, submit documents online, and monitor their application status via online portals. PW Live
- Go to pmuy.gov.in — the only official PMUY portal
- Click “Apply for New Ujjwala 2.0 Connection”
- The next page shows 3 gas companies — Indane, Bharat Gas, and HP Gas
- Click “Click here to apply” next to your preferred company
- You are redirected to that company’s online application form
- Fill your personal details — name exactly as in Aadhaar, date of birth, address
- Enter your Aadhaar number and bank account details
- Select your nearest LPG distributor from the dropdown — choose one close to your home
- Upload scanned copies of your documents
- Submit the form
- Note your Application Reference Number — save it for tracking
After online submission, a field verification may be conducted — a distributor representative visits your home to confirm address and household details. This is routine and takes 10 minutes.
How to Apply Offline — For Those Without Internet
The offline process is equally valid and simpler for many rural applicants.
- Visit your nearest LPG distributor — Indane, Bharat Gas, or HP Gas
- Ask for the Ujjwala Yojana KYC form
- Fill the form with your personal details, Aadhaar number, and bank details
- Attach photocopies of all required documents
- Submit the form at the distributor’s counter
- Collect the acknowledgment receipt — it has your application number
The distributor submits your application to the gas company. Processing typically takes 7 to 15 working days. You receive an SMS on your registered mobile when the connection is approved.
PRO TIP: Visit the distributor in the morning on a weekday. Bring original documents even if only photocopies are required — the distributor may want to verify originals before accepting photocopies.
The ₹300 Subsidy — How It Works and How to Ensure You Receive It
The subsidy is not automatic for everyone. It requires a working eKYC and an active Aadhaar-linked bank account. Here is exactly how the subsidy flows:
- You book a refill — via phone, app, or at the distributor
- The cylinder is delivered to your home
- You pay the market price at delivery (currently around ₹850 to ₹950 for a 14.2 kg cylinder depending on location)
- Within 2 to 3 working days, ₹300 is credited directly to your linked bank account via DBT
- This repeats for up to 12 refills per year
Net cost to you per cylinder: Market price minus ₹300 subsidy
Why some women do not receive subsidy despite being beneficiaries:
| Reason | Fix |
|---|---|
| Bank account not Aadhaar-linked | Link Aadhaar to bank account at your branch |
| Mobile number changed since registration | Update at your LPG distributor |
| eKYC not completed | Complete eKYC at distributor or pmuy.gov.in |
| Bank account dormant | Activate account with any transaction |
| Wrong IFSC code in records | Update bank details at distributor |
IMPORTANT: The ₹300 subsidy applies to up to 12 refills per year per connection. Beyond 12 refills annually, you pay the full market price. Plan your usage accordingly.
How to Check Your Ujjwala Application Status
After applying — whether online or offline — track your application here:
- Go to pmuy.gov.in
- Click “Check Your Application Status”
- Enter your LPG Consumer ID or Aadhaar number
- Your current application status appears
Alternatively, call your gas company’s helpline:
| Gas Company | Customer Care Number |
|---|---|
| Indane (IOC) | 1800-2333-555 |
| Bharat Gas | 1800-22-4344 |
| HP Gas | 1800-2333-555 |
How to Book Your LPG Refill After Getting the Connection
Once your Ujjwala connection is active, booking a refill is straightforward:
Via Phone: Give a missed call to your gas company’s number using your registered mobile —
- Indane: 8454955555
- Bharat Gas: 7715012345
- HP Gas: 9222201122
Via App: Download your gas company’s app (IndianOil ONE, BharatGas, or HP Gas app) and book directly
Via Distributor: Visit or call your local LPG distributor
Via IVRS: Call 7718955555 (works for all three companies with IVR prompts)
State-Wise Progress — Where Ujjwala Coverage Is Highest
Ujjwala Yojana has reached nearly every district in India, but some states have significantly higher beneficiary counts due to larger rural populations:
| State | Approximate Beneficiaries |
|---|---|
| Uttar Pradesh | Over 1.67 crore connections |
| West Bengal | Over 88 lakh connections |
| Bihar | Over 85 lakh connections |
| Madhya Pradesh | Over 71 lakh connections |
| Rajasthan | Over 62 lakh connections |
| Andhra Pradesh | Over 51 lakh connections |
| Maharashtra | Over 41 lakh connections |
| Odisha | Over 38 lakh connections |
If you live in these states and know families still cooking on wood or biomass — they almost certainly qualify. Help them apply.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: I already have a ration card but my name is not the head of family. Can I still apply for Ujjwala?
Yes. The applicant must be a woman aged 18 or above from an eligible household — she does not need to be the head of family. She needs to be listed on the ration card, or alternatively, submit an Aadhaar-based self-declaration of her household details.
Q: My husband already has an LPG connection in his name. Can I apply under Ujjwala?
No. Ujjwala’s core eligibility condition is that no LPG connection exists in the household — in any family member’s name. If your husband holds an active connection, your household is already covered under LPG and does not qualify for a new Ujjwala connection.
Q: The ₹300 subsidy did not come after my last refill. What do I do?
Check that your Aadhaar is linked to your bank account and that your bank account details are correctly registered with the gas company. Call your gas company’s helpline with your Consumer ID. Most subsidy delays resolve within 7 working days of reporting.
Q: I applied 3 weeks ago and have not received any update. Is this normal?
Processing takes 7 to 15 working days in most areas. If it has been more than 20 working days with no update, visit your distributor with your application reference number. They can check the status directly in the company’s system.
Q: Can a widow living alone apply for Ujjwala Yojana?
Yes — a widow is among the prioritised beneficiaries. A female-headed household with no existing LPG connection qualifies directly. The self-declaration form covers her household details if she does not have a joint ration card.
Q: I got a Ujjwala connection 3 years ago but stopped using it. Can I reactivate it?
Yes. Contact your LPG distributor with your Consumer ID. If the connection was suspended due to non-use, they can reactivate it after verifying your KYC details. Complete eKYC if prompted — this restores your subsidy eligibility immediately.
One Thought Worth Sharing
Over 10 crore women across India have received a Ujjwala connection. But surveys consistently show that a significant number stopped using their cylinder after the first refill — because the refill cost felt high compared to collecting free firewood.
The ₹300 subsidy exists precisely to address this. At net cost after subsidy, an LPG cylinder is competitive with the hidden costs of biomass fuel — the time spent collecting it, the health cost of breathing smoke daily, and the physical toll on women who carry heavy wood loads.
If someone you know stopped using their Ujjwala cylinder for this reason — show them how the subsidy works. The money comes back to their account within days of each refill.
Share this with women in your village or neighbourhood who cook on wood or biomass. The connection is free. The process takes one visit to a distributor. The health difference is immediate.
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About the Author C. Thiruvenkatam is the founder and editor of Daily Hind News. With over a decade of experience in digital publishing and Indian civic information, he helps English-speaking Indians worldwide navigate government processes, schemes, and citizen services with clarity and confidence.
