LPG subsidy shock: No e-KYC, no 14.2-kg cylinder from Oct 1

Kozhikode: Aadhaar-based biometric authentication, or e-KYC, will become mandatory from October 1 for domestic LPG refills supplied at subsidised rates. Consumers who fail to complete authentication within the stipulated period will not be eligible for the subsidised 14.2-kg LPG cylinders.

Authorities said consumers who do not complete e-KYC will instead have access only to smaller 5-kg and 10-kg cylinders at market prices. This means households that fail to complete the Aadhaar biometric process will not only lose the subsidy benefit but will also have to meet their cooking gas requirements by purchasing smaller cylinders at higher rates.

Only consumers who complete Aadhaar-based biometric authentication within the prescribed timeframe will continue to receive domestic LPG refills at the subsidised rate. Those unable or unwilling to complete the authentication will lose access to the subsidy.

Consumers who have already successfully completed Aadhaar fingerprint or biometric verification will continue to receive 14.2-kg LPG cylinders at the existing subsidised rate without disruption.

The central government is tightening the requirements as part of measures to prevent irregularities in LPG distribution and ensure that the subsidy reaches only genuine beneficiaries.

The new requirement places the onus on households to complete the e-KYC process within the stipulated period to continue receiving subsidised domestic LPG in the standard 14.2-kg cylinder. Those who fail to do so will have to bear the higher market price and rely on smaller cylinders for their cooking needs.

The move, therefore, creates a direct link between Aadhaar biometric authentication and continued access to subsidised domestic LPG refills from October 1.