Government approves targeted subsidy of Rs 300 to PMUY consumers

Utkarsh Classes Last Updated 09-03-2024

Government approves targeted subsidy of Rs 300 to PMUY consumers

Government Scheme 5 min read

The Union Cabinet on March 7, 2024 has extended the subsidy to the beneficiaries of Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana (PMUY) till the financial year 2024-25. Approval has been given to continue the targeted subsidy of Rs 300 per 14.2 kg cylinder to be provided for up to 12 refills for a year. There are more than 10.27 crore PMUY beneficiaries as of March 1, 2024.

PM Modi has announced a discount of Rs 100 per cylinder in the country on the occasion of International Women's Day on 8 March 2024.

Total upcoming PMUY expenditure for 2024-25:

The total expenditure for the fiscal year 2024-25 will amount to Rs 12,000 crore. The subsidy is deposited directly into the bank accounts of eligible beneficiaries.

About Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana (PMUY):

PMUY Start: May 2016
The Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas had launched 'PM Ujjwala Yojana' as a flagship scheme.
This scheme entails the Government of India providing LPG connections.
LPG connections are given only to women belonging to families below the poverty line.
Initially, under the scheme, the Government of India set a target of providing free LPG connections to 5 crore BPL families in the next 3 years. In which a target was set to provide LPG connections to about 1.5 crore BPL families every financial year.

Objective of PMUY:

The main objective of the Ujjwala scheme is to promote the use of clean fuel across India which can be accomplished by distributing free LPG connections.
One of the objectives of implementing the scheme is to promote women empowerment. Women's health can also be protected.
Reducing the use of unclean fossil fuels currently in use.
Empowering women and protecting their health.
To reduce the number of deaths due to impure fuel used for cooking in India.
Protecting young children from serious respiratory illnesses caused by indoor air pollution from burning fossil fuels.

About Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG):

Any of several liquid mixtures of LPG, the volatile hydrocarbons propane, and butane. As early as 1860, it was utilized as a portable fuel source, and its production and consumption have since expanded for both domestic and industrial purposes. A standard commercial mixture may include ethane and ethylene, along with a volatile mercaptan, an odorant added for safety measures.
LPG, which is made from lighter hydrocarbons, such as propane and other hydrocarbons including butane. These gasses are pressurized with high pressure.
LPG is produced during oil refining or natural gas extraction.
In case of any type of leakage, the gas can be detected, for this a special type of substance mercaptan is added to the gas cylinder. Due to which we get the foul smell of gas leakage.
LPG is recovered from "wet" natural gas (gas containing condensed heavy petroleum compounds) by absorption.

India's dependence on LPG imports:

India imports about 60 percent of its LPG requirement. PMUY provides subsidy to protect the beneficiaries from the impact of sharp fluctuations in international prices of LPG.