PM Ujjwala Yojana: Free LPG Connection & How to Apply

For decades, millions of Indian homes cooked on firewood, cow dung cakes and coal. The smoke caused serious health problems, particularly for women and children, and gathering fuel took hours every day. The Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana (PMUY) was started to change that by helping poor households get a clean LPG cooking connection. This guide to the PM Ujjwala Yojana explains how the scheme works, who is eligible, the help on offer and how to apply.

What Is PM Ujjwala Yojana?

PMUY is a scheme of the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas. It was launched on 1 May 2016 in Ballia, Uttar Pradesh, and its original goal was to give LPG connections to women from Below Poverty Line (BPL) households. The first phase was meant to reach five crore households and was later enlarged, and the government announced that the 8 crore connection target was achieved in September 2019, ahead of the planned date.

In 2021 the scheme was extended as Ujjwala 2.0, with a plan to release one crore additional connections. This second phase paid special attention to migrant families, who often lack address proof in the city they work in. Under Ujjwala 2.0, such applicants can submit a self-declaration instead of a ration card or other address document. The connection is issued in the name of an adult woman of the family, which is also meant to strengthen her role in the household.

Why the Scheme Matters

• Health: Cooking over a smoky fire exposes women to fumes that harm the lungs and eyes. LPG burns far more cleanly.
• Time: Collecting firewood can take hours. A gas stove saves that time for work, study or rest.
• Environment: Less wood burning means less pressure on forests and less indoor and outdoor air pollution.
• Dignity: The connection stands in the name of a woman, which helps with her financial identity.

Who Is Eligible?

The basic conditions are that the applicant must be an adult woman, aged 18 or above, and that no one in the household should already have an LPG connection. Beyond that, eligibility has been widened over time and different sources describe the covered groups in slightly different words, so check the latest rules on the official portal. Households commonly listed as eligible include:

• Households on the Socio-Economic Caste Census (SECC) list
• Women from Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe families
• Beneficiaries of Antyodaya Anna Yojana (AAY) ration cards
• Beneficiaries of Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (Gramin)
• Most Backward Classes, forest dwellers, tea and ex-tea garden tribes, and residents of islands and river islands
• Any poor household that fits the 14-point declaration used by the scheme

What You Get Under the Scheme

The scheme is designed so that a poor household does not have to pay upfront for the connection. The benefits include:

• A financial grant from the government that covers the cost of the cylinder security deposit and the pressure regulator.
• A free first refill and a free gas stove (hotplate) for eligible beneficiaries under Ujjwala 2.0.
• A targeted subsidy on refills. For the financial year 2025-26, a subsidy of ₹300 per 14.2 kg cylinder for up to nine refills a year has been reported. Subsidy amounts are revised by the government, so check the figure that applies now.
• Subsidy is credited directly into the beneficiary’s bank account through Direct Benefit Transfer, so a bank account linked to Aadhaar is important.

One point deserves care. The scheme covers the connection and the first set-up cost, but running costs, meaning the price of each refill, are paid by the household. The subsidy only reduces that cost. That is why it helps to plan for the market price of the cylinder first and receive the subsidy afterwards.

Documents Required

• Aadhaar card of the applicant, and in many cases of adult family members
• Ration card or a document showing the household composition
• Bank account number and IFSC code, with the account linked to Aadhaar
• Active mobile number
• Passport-size photograph
• Proof of eligibility category, such as an SECC entry, caste certificate or AAY card
• A signed KYC form, with a self-declaration for migrants who lack address proof

How to Apply: Step by Step

Online method

1. Go to the official PMUY website, pmuy.gov.in, and choose the option to apply for a new Ujjwala connection.
2. Select your preferred LPG company, such as Indane, Bharat Gas or HP Gas, and pick a distributor near you.
3. Fill in the application form with your name, address, bank details and Aadhaar number.
4. Upload scanned copies of the required documents.
5. Submit the form. The distributor will verify your details and contact you.

Offline method

1. Visit the nearest LPG distributor and ask for the Ujjwala KYC form.
2. Fill it in, attach photocopies of your documents and submit it.
3. After verification, the distributor installs the connection and hands over the stove and cylinder.

The official portal was undergoing maintenance when this article was prepared, so if the website does not load, apply through a distributor or call the LPG helpline of your oil company.

Safety Tips for New LPG Users

• Keep the cylinder upright and in a ventilated place, away from the stove.
• Switch off the regulator when the stove is not in use.
• If you smell gas, do not light a flame or switch on electrical items. Open the doors and windows and call the emergency helpline.
• Use only the pressure regulator and rubber tube provided by the distributor, and replace the tube when it cracks.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do men qualify?
No. The connection is issued only in the name of an adult woman of the eligible household.

I already have an LPG connection. Can I get another?
No. The scheme is meant for households without any LPG connection.

Is there any fee to apply?
No. The application is free, and nobody should ask you for money to process it.

Why did I not receive the subsidy?
The usual causes are a bank account that is not linked to Aadhaar or a mismatch in the name. Ask your distributor to check and update your details.

Final Thoughts

PM Ujjwala Yojana has brought clean cooking fuel to a very large number of rural and poor urban households. If your family does not have an LPG connection, check whether you fall within the eligible groups, gather your KYC documents and apply through the official portal or a trusted distributor. If you are also planning a new home, see our guide to the PM Awas Yojana. Make sure that your bank account is linked to Aadhaar so that the subsidy reaches you without delay.

Disclaimer: This article is for general information and is not an official government publication. Eligibility rules and subsidy amounts are revised from time to time. Please confirm the current details on pmuy.gov.in or with an authorised LPG distributor before applying. Details last reviewed in October 2026.