Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana (PMUY, translation: Prime Minister's Lightening Scheme) was launched by Prime Minister of India Narendra Modi on 1 May 2016 to distribute 50 million LPG connections to women of Below Poverty Line (BPL) families.[1][2][3] A budgetary allocation of ₹80 billion (US$960 million) was made for the scheme. The scheme was replaced by the Ujjwala Yojana 2.0 in 2021.[4]
In the first year of its launch, the connections distributed were 22 million against the target of 15 million. As of 23 October 2017, 30 million connections were distributed, 44% of which were given to families belonging to scheduled castes and scheduled tribes.[5] The number crossed 58 million by December 2018.[6]
In 2018 Union Budget of India, its scope was widened to include 80 million poor households.[7] 21,000 awareness camps were conducted by oil marketing companies (OMC).[6] The scheme led to an increase in LPG consumption by 56% in 2019 as compared to 2014.[8]
The highly popular scheme has benefited over 14.6 million BPL families in Uttar Pradesh, 8.8 million in West Bengal, 8.5 million in Bihar, 7.1 million in Madhya Pradesh, 6.3 million in Rajasthan and 3.24 million in Tamil Nadu.[9][10]
On 7 Sep 2019, Prime Minister Narendra Modi distributed a fuel cylinder to the 8th crore beneficiary under this scheme.[11]
In the Union Budget of 2021–2022, the government announced that 1 crore more connections will be provided under this scheme. The Prime Minister launched the Ujjwala Scheme II on 10 August 2021 to provide fuel to 1 crore families who were left out of the first scheme.[12]
At the 107th Indian Science Congress held in January 2020 in Bengaluru, Narendra Modi declared that technology has helped India "in recognizing the 8 crore [80 million] women who were still using coal or wood for cooking" and also "in understanding how many new distribution centres must be built, with the help of technology".[13]
The National Family Health Surveys demonstrate significant improvement in access to cleaner cooking fuels due to PMUY. Yearly growth in access to cleaner fuel accelerated around 2015 and increased by almost seven times, from 0.8% in rural areas before 2015 to 5.6% after.[14]
India's Gas cylinder penetration has improved from 62 percent in May 2016 to 99.8 percent on 1 April 2021.[10]
Rajasthan CM Bhajan Lal Sharma announced that the rate of the cylinder will be Rs 450 in Rajasthan under Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana.[15]
To increase the number of beneficiaries under the Ujjwala scheme, by renovating the structure, it is easy to bring the last mile beneficiaries under the scheme, so the government also tried to renovate the structures. Direct and indirect employments were also increased through it.[16]
On 7 Sep 2019, the number of beneficiaries under Ujjwala Scheme I touched 8 crore. Number of beneficiaries state wise.[10][17]
The Cabinet approved a subsidy of Rs.200 per 14.2 kg LPG cylinder for up to 12 refills per year.The total expenditurewill be Rs.6,100 crore for financial year 2022-23 and Rs.7,680 crore for 2023–24. Average LPG consumption of PMUY consumers has increased by 20 percent from 3.01 refills in 2019–20 to 3.68 in 2021–22.[18][19]
The government has increased the subsidy for poor women under the Ujjwala scheme to Rs. 300 per cylinder for the next financial year. The subsidy of Rs. 300 per cylinder was applicable for the current financial year, ending on March 31. Union Minister for Commerce and Industry, Piyush Goyal informed that the Economic Affairs Committee of the Cabinet has now decided to extend this subsidy until 2024-25.[20]
On 31 March 2016, the subsidy for purchase of fuel given to below poverty line households through the Corporate Social Responsibility Fund was discontinued.[23]