LPG Subsidy Rule Changes From October 1 for Domestic Consumers

A new requirement is coming into effect for domestic LPG consumers from October 1, 2026. Those who want to book refills at the regulated price with the applicable subsidy will need to complete Biometric Aadhaar Authentication.

The Petroleum and Natural Gas Ministry announced the change on September 19. The government said the move is aimed at making sure subsidised cooking gas reaches genuine and eligible households while reducing the possibility of duplicate or ineligible connections.

The latest figures show that a large majority of consumers have already completed the process. As of September 19, 27.43 crore active domestic LPG consumers had completed biometric authentication, accounting for 89.9 percent of the total. Those who have already completed it do not need to repeat the process.

For consumers who are yet to complete the authentication, there are several options. The process can be done when the LPG cylinder is delivered, by visiting the local LPG distributor showroom or through the mobile application of the respective oil marketing company.

Indane customers can use IndianOil ONE, Bharatgas customers can use HelloBPCL and HP Gas customers can use HP PAY. These options allow consumers to complete the process without necessarily making a separate visit to a distributor.

The government has been running the authentication drive for some time. The deadline was extended several times to give consumers additional opportunities to complete the process. Oil marketing companies have also used SMS messages, WhatsApp communication, special camps, distributor follow ups and other awareness measures to reach customers who were still pending authentication.

One important point is that consumers who do not complete biometric authentication will not be completely denied LPG. The government has clarified that they can still obtain cylinders, but they will not receive the applicable subsidy and will have to pay the prevailing market price. Consumers can also register their choice through the digital channels provided by their oil marketing company.

The government says the authentication system is intended to prevent subsidised domestic LPG cylinders from being diverted for commercial or industrial use. Linking an LPG connection with an Aadhaar authenticated consumer can also help identify duplicate and ineligible connections and improve the targeting of subsidy benefits.

The financial side of the subsidy is also part of the government’s latest announcement. Domestic LPG is currently being sold below its cost, with the implicit subsidy estimated at around Rs 210 for a 14.2 kg cylinder in September 2026. The figure had been around Rs 721 per cylinder in June.

The latest rule therefore matters mainly to consumers who have not yet completed the authentication process. For the 27.43 crore consumers who have already finished it, no additional action is required under the new requirement.

The government has also stressed that the authentication process is not intended to prevent genuine households from accessing LPG. Consumers who still need to complete it have multiple channels available, including delivery personnel, distributor offices and official mobile applications.

With October 1 approaching, consumers who depend on subsidised domestic LPG and have not yet completed the biometric process will need to finish it to continue booking subsidised refills at the regulated price.

The change is part of the broader effort to make LPG subsidy transfers more targeted and reduce misuse within the distribution system. The effectiveness of the new requirement will depend on how smoothly the remaining consumers complete authentication and how efficiently the oil marketing companies handle the process.