Politics 09 Jun, 2026

Modi govt intoxicated on power: Cong on reduction in number of subsidised Ujjwala refills

Business To Business, New Delhi, 9^th June, 2026:  The Indian National Congress on Tuesday criticized the Union government over its decision to reduce the number of subsidised LPG refills available under the Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana (PMUY), alleging that the move would adversely affect poor households, particularly women.
Kharge's Criticism
Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge said the government's claims about poverty alleviation were contradicted by its policies.
Referring to the Ujjwala scheme, Kharge noted that:

• When the scheme was launched in 2016, beneficiaries were promised up to 12 subsidised LPG cylinders annually.
• The subsidised quota was later reduced to 9 cylinders.
• It has now been further reduced to 4 cylinders per year.

He argued that while the government had promised extensive support, the actual benefits available to beneficiaries had steadily declined.
Kharge also alleged that:

• Poor households have faced difficulties due to changes in welfare programmes.
• The reduction in subsidised LPG support would increase the burden on economically weaker families.
• The government was showing concern for women's welfare only rhetorically while reducing practical assistance.

The government has defended the decision, stating that the revised entitlement broadly reflects the average annual LPG consumption of Ujjwala beneficiaries. Officials have argued that the change aligns subsidy support with actual usage patterns among PMUY households.
Launched in 2016, the Ujjwala scheme aims to provide clean cooking fuel to women from economically disadvantaged households by offering deposit-free LPG connections. The programme has been one of the government's flagship social welfare initiatives and has been credited with expanding LPG access across rural India.
The latest reduction in subsidised refills has become a fresh point of contention between the government and the opposition, with the Congress arguing that it weakens support for poor families, while the government maintains that the revised quota is based on actual consumption patterns and targeted subsidy delivery.