Foot on the gas: Delhi Govt to cover cost of 2 LPG cylinders for ration card holders
Under a new scheme of the Delhi Government, all ration card–holding families in the Capital will receive money to cover the cost of two LPG cylinders each year from 2026 onwards. A Cabinet meeting chaired by Chief Minister (CM) Rekha Gupta approved the scheme on Tuesday.
Announcing the scheme, Gupta said it was aimed at providing relief from rising inflation to economically weaker families, adding that the assistance would be released twice a year, on Holi and Diwali, directly into the Aadhaar-linked bank account of the head of the family through a Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT).
According to officials, the scheme would cover all ration card holders in Delhi, irrespective of whether they use LPG cylinders or piped natural gas (PNG) for cooking. The benefit would be provided even if a beneficiary does not purchase a cylinder in the particular festival month, the officials added.
An LPG cylinder currently costs Rs 853 in Delhi. Under the scheme, families covered by the Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana (PMUY) will receive Rs 553 per cylinder after adjusting the Rs 300 subsidy already provided by the Centre. Non-Ujjwala ration card holders will receive the full Rs 853 per cylinder.
According to government estimates, the annual expenditure on the scheme would be Rs 242.77 crore and would change based on LPG prices, Centre subsidies and the number of beneficiaries. Officials said adequate budgetary provision had been made to ensure smooth implementation.
“The initiative would help families celebrate festivals with dignity and without financial stress,” said the CM, adding that the scheme reflected the government’s commitment to targeted, transparent and accountable welfare. Gupta thanked PM Narendra Modi for PMUY, saying it had provided clean cooking fuel and improved the health of millions of household and called the new scheme an extension of the same approach.
“The initiative is part of the BJP’s Sankalp Patra. It is not just an announcement, but proof of effective governance,” said Gupta.
