LPG eKYC not mandatory for all: Petroleum Ministry clarifies Aadhaar rules for gas subsidy

New Delhi: The Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas issued a formal clarification on Tuesday regarding biometric Aadhaar authentication for Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) consumers, emphasising that the requirement for electronic Know Your Customer (eKYC) updates is not a universal mandate for all households.

The announcement follows a surge in reports suggesting that every domestic gas connection holder would be required to undergo fresh biometric verification. Government officials clarified that the recent directive is not a new policy shift but rather a continuation of long-standing efforts to streamline the subsidy distribution system and ensure delivery transparency.

According to the ministry statement, the eKYC requirement primarily targets consumers who have never completed an initial authentication. For general domestic customers who have already verified their accounts in the past, no further action is required. The ministry noted that these individuals do not need to repeat the process, effectively clearing the path for millions of users who feared a return to physical verification centres.

Guidelines for Subsidy Recipients

Specific guidelines were provided for beneficiaries of the Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana (PMUY). These customers are required to complete biometric authentication once per financial year. However, the ministry specified that this is tied specifically to the receipt of targeted Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) subsidies. The requirement for PMUY users typically triggers after the seventh refill of the year, specifically for the eighth and ninth cylinder deliveries.

Federal authorities also moved to ease concerns regarding the potential disruption of essential services. The ministry confirmed that the supply of LPG refills will remain unaffected regardless of a consumer’s current authentication status. The primary objective of the eKYC drive is to establish clear eligibility, identify "ghost" or duplicate accounts, and discourage the illegal diversion of subsidised domestic cylinders into the commercial market.

Home Authentication Process

To minimise public inconvenience, the ministry highlighted that authentication can be completed from home at no cost. Consumers can utilise mobile applications provided by their respective oil marketing companies, such as Indane, Bharat Gas, or HP Gas, in conjunction with the Aadhaar FaceRD application to verify their identity through facial recognition technology.

The process involves downloading the provider's official app, such as IndianOil ONE, Hello BPCL, or HP Pay, and selecting the Aadhaar Authentication option. This digital approach is designed to eliminate the need for physical queues at local gas agencies.

How to do it from home

If you fall into the category that needs authentication, you can avoid the queues at the agency:

• Step 1: Download the official app for your provider (e.g., IndianOil ONE, Hello BPCL, or HP Pay).
• Step 2: Download the Aadhaar FaceRD app from the Google Play Store or Apple App Store.
• Step 3: Open your gas provider's app, log in, and select the Aadhaar Authentication/eKYC option.
• Step 4: Follow the on-screen prompts for face authentication.