The Centre will distribute 25 lakh free LPG connections under the Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana (PMUY) during the festival of Navratri, Union Petroleum and Natural Gas Minister Hardeep Singh Puri announced on Monday.
With this expansion, the total number of Ujjwala beneficiaries will rise to 10.6 crore families across the country.
“With the auspicious beginning of Navratri, the gift of 2.5 million new free PM Ujjwala connections is yet another proof that Prime Minister Narendra Modi honours women just like Goddess Durga. This decision further strengthens our resolve for the respect and empowerment of mothers and sisters,” Puri wrote in a post on X.
PM Modi congratulated all women joining the Ujjwala family. Responding to Puri’s post, he said, “Through this step of ours, not only will they experience new joy on this sacred festival, but our commitments to women’s empowerment will also gain further strength.”
Calling it a Navratri gift, Puri said the expansion of Ujjwala reflects PM Modi’s commitment to honouring women’s power. He said the government will spend Rs 2,050 on each connection, covering a free LPG cylinder, stove, regulator, and related equipment.
The minister described the scheme as both a symbol of empowerment and a source of transformation.
“Ujjwala has not only made kitchens smoke-free but also improved the health and lives of millions of women and their families. It is not just a scheme; it has become a torch of a massive revolution, whose flame has reached every corner of the nation, even remote areas,” he said.
Puri also referred to the Union Cabinet’s recent decision to provide a subsidy of Rs 300 on refills for over 10.33 crore Ujjwala families. With this subsidy, cylinders are available at Rs 553, which he noted is lower than the price in many LPG-producing countries.
Expressing gratitude to the Prime Minister, Puri said Ujjwala has brought visible change in the lives of women. “No more stinging eyes, no smoke in the breath, and no blisters on the hands. Instead, there is the smile of happiness, good health, and the flavour of love,” he wrote.
Launched in May 2016, PMUY provides deposit-free LPG connections to women from poor households. Under Ujjwala 2.0, the first refill and stove are also given free of cost to beneficiaries.
