In a remarkable move that is set to bring immense relief to households nationwide, Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s government has announced a significant reduction in the price of cooking gas. The reduction, effective from, will see the cost of a 14.2 Kg LPG cylinder drop by ₹200 across all markets in the country.
For example, in the national capital of Delhi, the current price of ₹1,103 per cylinder will be lowered to a more pocket-friendly ₹903 per cylinder. This move, timed to coincide with the joyous occasion of Raksha Bandhan, is being hailed as a thoughtful gesture by Prime Minister Modi. “This is a gift to crores of my sisters of the country on the occasion of Raksha Bandhan,” Prime Minister Modi said, emphasizing his government’s commitment to enhancing the quality of life for all citizens, especially those in the lower-income brackets.
This reduction is in addition to the existing targeted subsidy of ₹200 per cylinder for households under the Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana (PMUY), which will continue unchanged. Consequently, the effective price for PMUY households in Delhi will be an even more affordable ₹703 per cylinder.
With over 31 crore domestic LPG consumers in the country, including 9.6 crore PMUY beneficiary families, this reduction is poised to benefit a significant portion of the population. Furthermore, to expedite the provision of LPG connections to deserving households, the government will be distributing PMUY connections to an additional 75 lakh women from impoverished households, effectively increasing the total number of PMUY beneficiaries from 9.6 crore to 10.35 crore.
These decisions reflect the government’s continuous commitment to alleviate financial strain on citizens and promote the well-being of households. The decrease in cooking gas prices underscores the government’s priority to ensure access to essential commodities at reasonable rates, even as it focuses on a larger vision of inclusive development.
Hardeep Singh Puri, the Minister of Petroleum and Natural Gas, expressed his satisfaction with the decision, stating, “We understand the challenges faced by households in managing their budgets. The reduction in cooking gas prices is aimed at providing direct relief to families and individuals, while also supporting the government’s larger goal of ensuring affordable access to essential items.”
The ripple effect of this reduction in cooking gas prices is expected to be felt across society, significantly impacting the cost of living for a broad spectrum of citizens. The proactive step taken by the government is predicted to translate into substantial savings for households, thus contributing positively to their disposable income. As general elections loom, the government’s efforts to ease the financial burden on the populace have been evident.
