India’s LPG system will see major changes from May 1, affecting many households.
The three main oil companies — Indian Oil Corporation (Indane), Bharat Petroleum (Bharat Gas) and Hindustan Petroleum (HP Gas) — are introducing new rules to stop misuse and black marketing of subsidised LPG.
Key Changes:
- Aadhaar eKYC:
Under Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana, users must complete Aadhaar-based verification if not done already. - Booking Gap Increased:
Cylinder booking gap is now 25 days in cities and 45 days in rural areas. Early bookings will be rejected. - OTP Delivery Rule:
LPG delivery will now require an OTP (Delivery Authentication Code). Without OTP, the cylinder won’t be delivered.
Price Update:
LPG prices may increase again from May 1. Recently, prices of domestic cylinders (14.2 kg) were raised by ₹60, while commercial cylinder rates also went up multiple times.
As of April 28, prices in major cities are around ₹900–₹1,000 for domestic cylinders. For example:
- Delhi: ₹913
- Mumbai: ₹912.50
- Chennai: ₹928.50
- Kolkata: ₹939
Commercial cylinders are priced above ₹2,000 in most cities.
Why Prices Change:
LPG prices in India are set monthly by government oil companies based on global fuel prices and currency rates. Recent tensions in West Asia have increased international oil prices, leading to higher LPG rates.
While domestic users get subsidies directly in their bank accounts, any price hike still affects household budgets.
Overall, from May 1, consumers will face stricter rules and possibly higher LPG prices, though final rates are yet to be announced.