No verification, no subsidy: Govt sets Oct 1 deadline for LPG biometric Aadhaar authentication
New Delhi: Domestic liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) consumers will need to complete biometric authentication to continue booking cooking gas refills at regulated, subsidised rates from 1 October, according to an official statement issued on Saturday.
The Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas stated that the measure is intended to guarantee that subsidised LPG reaches eligible households whilst curtailing the diversion of domestic cylinders for commercial and industrial applications.
Government officials noted that connecting LPG accounts with authenticated consumers would assist in removing duplicate and ineligible connections, thereby improving the distribution of state subsidies.
However, householders who have previously completed the biometric verification process will not need to repeat it and may continue ordering refills as normal.
Those who have yet to complete verification will only be permitted to access subsidised cylinders once the requirement has been fulfilled, the ministry added.
Consumers can complete the authentication procedure through several avenues. Verification can be carried out at the point of delivery via a mobile app used by delivery personnel, at distributor showrooms, or through dedicated oil marketing company apps, the government outlined.
Additionally, Indane consumers can utilise IndianOil ONE, Bharatgas customers can use HelloBPCL, and HP Gas users can complete the procedure through HP PAY.
Households that choose not to complete the verification process will remain eligible to receive LPG supplies, but exclusively at commercial market rates without subsidy.
Such consumers must register their choice via their respective oil marketing company's digital portals, mobile applications, WhatsApp chatbots, automated phone systems, or other provided platforms. They will be supplied with 5-kg or 10-kg cylinders, subject to regional availability.
Official figures indicate that 274.3 million active domestic LPG users—representing nearly 90 per cent of the total consumer base—had completed biometric authentication as of 19 September.
The government highlighted that state oil marketing companies have been running a nationwide outreach campaign since October 2023, encompassing text and WhatsApp notifications, home visits by distributors and delivery staff, special enrolment drives, automated telephone reminders, and media awareness campaigns.
The implicit state subsidy on a standard 14.2-kg domestic cylinder stood at approximately 210 rupees in September 2026, officials confirmed.
The ministry added that restricting subsidies strictly to verified beneficiaries remains crucial for maintaining the scheme amidst rising under-recoveries absorbed by public sector oil marketing firms.
IANS