Govt cuts subsidised LPG cylinders under Ujjwala from 9 to 4

📌 Summary:

• The Centre has reduced subsidised refills under the Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana (PMUY) from nine to four cylinders a year
• The cut comes amid pressure on global LPG supplies in the backdrop of the West Asia (Israel-Iran) conflict
• The curtailment was communicated on June 7, 2026 in a press statement accompanying a domestic LPG price hike
• Move aims to contain the rising subsidy/under-recovery burden on oil marketing companies as import-linked LPG costs climb

🎯 UPSC Relevance: GS2 (welfare schemes, targeting of subsidies) and GS3 (energy security, fiscal management) – balancing fiscal prudence with clean-cooking-fuel access for the poor.

📝 Prelims Facts:

• PMUY launched in May 2016 to provide deposit-free LPG connections to women of poor households
• Implemented by the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas
• Subsidised refills under PMUY cut from 9 to 4 per year (2026)

🔑 Key Term: Under-recovery – the gap between the cost of producing/importing a fuel and its regulated/subsidised selling price, borne by oil marketing companies.