LPG Subsidy Rule Change: Biometric Aadhaar Authentication Compulsory From October 1, 2026
Biometric Aadhaar Authentication will be mandatory for subsidised domestic LPG refills from October 1, 2026. Over 27.43 crore users (89.9%) have completed the process via OMC apps, delivery agents, or dealerships. Unauthenticated users will only receive non-subsidised 5 kg or 10 kg cylinders at market price. Assistance is available on helpline 1800 2333 555.
Biometric Aadhaar Authentication (BAA) will become mandatory from October 1, 2026, for domestic LPG consumers seeking refills at the regulated Retail Selling Price (RSP) with applicable subsidies, the government announced on Saturday. The initiative aims to ensure that subsidised cooking gas reaches only genuine households by preventing commercial diversion, eliminating duplicate connections, and making subsidy delivery transparent.
According to data released by the Press Information Bureau (PIB), 27.43 crore active domestic LPG consumers, representing 89.9 per cent of the total consumer base, had completed biometric authentication as of September 19, 2026. Consumers who have already authenticated their credentials will experience no interruption and need not take further action. For those yet to finish the process, subsidised refill bookings will be temporarily halted and re-enabled once biometric verification is completed. UPI New Rules From October 15: Govt Clarifies MDR, GST and RuPay Charges.
Multiple Modes to Complete Authentication
The Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas and Oil Marketing Companies (OMCs) have provided multiple accessible options for consumers to complete their authentication before the October 1 cut-off:
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At Refill Delivery: Delivery personnel can verify biometric details on the spot using OMC mobile applications.
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At Distributor Showrooms: Consumers can visit their local LPG distributorship in person to get their biometric e-KYC processed.
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Via Mobile Applications: Consumers can independently finish self e-KYC from home using dedicated OMC apps:
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IndianOil ONE for Indane consumers
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HelloBPCL for Bharatgas consumers
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HP PAY for HP Gas consumers
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To assist consumers with digital verification, video tutorials detailing self e-KYC procedures have been made available on the official Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana (PMUY) portal.
Options for Non-Authenticated Consumers
Consumers who are unable or unwilling to complete Biometric Aadhaar Authentication will still have access to domestic cooking gas. However, they will be required to register their choice across OMC digital touchpoints, including consumer portals, mobile apps, WhatsApp chatbots, or Interactive Voice Response Systems (IVRS).
Such households will receive LPG strictly at the prevailing market price without any government subsidy, supplied in 5 kg or 10 kg cylinders subject to local OMC availability. UPI MDR on Payments Above INR 2,000 to Stay; Govt Rules Out Reversal.
Timeline and Nationwide Outreach Drive
The mandatory rollout comes after several extensions designed to maximize coverage across urban and rural sectors. Initial directives set a deadline of June 30, 2026, which was subsequently deferred to July 31, August 7, August 15, August 23, August 31, September 7, and September 14.
Since October 2023, state-run fuel retailers have spearheaded an extensive outreach campaign, issuing over 12 crore SMS and WhatsApp alerts, conducting door-to-door follow-ups, and organizing special camps at distributorships and high-footfall public locations.
Fiscal Context and Subsidy Under-Recoveries
Domestic LPG continues to be sold below actual cost to shield consumers from volatile international crude and gas prices. The implicit subsidy stood at approximately INR 210 per 14.2 kg cylinder in September 2026, having peaked at INRÂ 721 per cylinder in June 2026.
To maintain price stability, the central government provided OMCs compensation of INRÂ 22,000 crore in FY 2022-23 and is releasing INRÂ 30,000 crore across FY 2025-26 and FY 2026-27. Despite these fiscal transfers, accumulated under-recoveries of public sector OMCs on domestic LPG exceeded INRÂ 62,000 crore as of August 31, 2026, underlining the fiscal necessity of curbing subsidy leakage.
Consumers requiring assistance with the biometric verification process have been advised to contact the national toll-free helpline at 1800 2333 555.
(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Sep 19, 2026 08:45 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).
