https://indianmasterminds.com

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT

PAHAL Scheme Blocks Over 4 Crore Fake LPG Connections; Aadhaar Compliance Reaches 92.44%: Hardeep Singh Puri

PAHAL blocks 4.08 Cr fake LPG connections; Aadhaar compliance hits 92.44%. Govt boosts LPG transparency, subsidy delivery, and consumer safety.
Indian Masterminds Stories

The PAHAL (Pratyaksh Hanstantrit Labh) scheme has emerged as a powerful instrument in curbing LPG subsidy leakages and ensuring targeted delivery of benefits, Union Minister for Petroleum and Natural Gas Hardeep Singh Puri informed the Rajya Sabha in a written reply. As of July 1, 2025, a total of 4.08 crore duplicate, fake/non-existent, and inactive LPG connections have been blocked, suspended, or deactivated under the Direct Benefit Transfer for LPG (DBTL) scheme.

Highlighting the government’s multi-pronged approach to improve transparency, accountability, and consumer empowerment in LPG distribution, Puri said that the system has been significantly strengthened through Aadhaar integration, biometric authentication, and rigorous verification mechanisms.

read also: “Not Worried at all”: Hardeep Singh Puri Dismisses US Sanctions Over Russian Oil

Aadhaar Integration and Biometric Authentication

To minimise transaction failures and enhance the efficiency of subsidy transfers, the government has achieved 92.44% Aadhaar seeding among 33.05 crore active LPG consumers, while 86.78% of 30.63 crore DBTL consumers are now Aadhaar Transfer Compliant. Biometric Aadhaar authentication has been completed for 67% of PMUY beneficiaries, with mandatory authentication for all new PMUY connections.

Puri noted that Aadhaar-related issues — such as bank account deseeding, mergers, inactive numbers, and closures — had previously contributed to transaction failures. Focused efforts have since been made to resolve these, ensuring smoother subsidy disbursals, typically within two days of delivery.

Weeding Out Inactive and Ineligible Connections

A Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) was issued in January 2025 to terminate connections under PMUY (Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana) that remained inactive. As a result, 12,000 such connections were recently removed. Overall, since inception, 8.49 lakh ineligible PMUY connections have been terminated due to comprehensive deduplication efforts.

Ensuring Discipline and Accountability

The Minister said that LPG supply is regulated under the Liquefied Petroleum Gas (Regulation of Supply and Distribution) Order, 2000, with Marketing Discipline Guidelines (MDG) issued by Oil Marketing Companies (OMCs) for distributors. Penal actions are taken against those found guilty of malpractice, with both regular and surprise inspections conducted at various distributor points to curb irregularities.

Field inspections are carried out by officers from the OMCs’ regional and zonal offices, as well as the Anti-Adulteration Cell and Vigilance teams. These checks cover godowns, showrooms, delivery routes, and en-route deliveries.

Empowering Consumers Through Technology

The implementation of IVRS/SMS-based refill booking systems across all LPG distributorships has enabled consumers to receive SMS alerts at every stage — booking, invoice generation, and delivery. In addition, the Delivery Authentication Code (DAC) system ensures that only rightful customers receive refills, further tightening the delivery chain.

Performance and Impact Assessment

During the financial year 2024–25, about 194 crore LPG refills were delivered, with complaints registered for only 0.08% of them — most related to delivery delays or subsidy issues, indicating a high operational efficiency.

A third-party evaluation by the Research and Development Initiative (RDI) found that over 90% of beneficiaries were satisfied with the current subsidy reimbursement mechanism. The report suggested enhancing infrastructure, targeting subsidies better towards the economically weaker sections, and increasing safety awareness via local-language campaigns.

read also: Unlocking India’s Energy Frontiers: ONGC & OIL Drive Deepwater Push in Andaman Basin Amid Surge in Offshore Exploration

Future Measures

Based on these findings, Puri said the government has taken multiple steps to further improve the efficiency, transparency, and outreach of the PAHAL scheme. The introduction of the Common LPG Database Platform (CLDP) now enables deduplication using multiple identifiers such as Aadhaar, bank accounts, ration cards, and address details.

The government remains committed to ensuring that LPG subsidy transfers and distribution are inclusive, transparent, and efficient, the Minister reiterated, adding that the grievance redressal system has also been systematically upgraded to enhance consumer satisfaction and service quality.


Indian Masterminds Stories
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Related Stories
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
NEWS
Satpura Tiger Reserve
Satpura Tiger Reserve Sees New Tiger Cubs; Jhalai’s First Litter Captured
Madhya Pradesh Logo IM
Hotel & Resort Operators Can Now Conduct Jungle Safaris in MP Tiger Reserves
Sanjiv Bhatt Custodial Torture Case
Gujarat High Court Rejects Sanjiv Bhatt’s First-Class Prisoner Status Plea
Yogi Adityanath
Samarth Uttar Pradesh @2047: Over 53 Lakh Citizens Share Vision for Yogi Adityanath’s Prosperity Campaign
Haryana gov resized
Haryana Government Assigns Additional Charges to Three IAS Officers
Vishnu Deo Sai CM
Record-Breaking Diwali Trade in Chhattisgarh: Rs. 16,000 Crore Boost Fuels Economic Growth and 'Vocal for Local' Movement
CM Vishnu Sai Sohrai Karma Mahotsav 2025
Chhattisgarh CM Vishnu Sai Celebrates Sohrai Karma Mahotsav 2025, Announces Major Grants and Development Projects for Rautia Community
8th pay commission
CSS Forum Urges PM Modi: Constitute 8th CPC Soon to Boost Employee Morale and Support ‘Developed India 2047’
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Videos
WhatsApp Image 2025-10-23 at 10.40
Everybody Needs To Know What Is Transpiring Behind Closed Doors Of Courts
WhatsApp Image 2025-10-19 at 12.23
UPSC Journey Should Be Enjoyable, Not Cumbersome
WhatsApp Image 2025-10-16 at 15.16
The Many Facets of Former IRS Officer and Author, Giselle Mehta | Video Interview
ADVERTISEMENT
UPSC Stories
IAS Rupal Rana UPSC
How Rupal Rana Cracked UPSC CSE 2023 with AIR 26 After Four Attempts
UPSC Topper Rupal Rana secured AIR 26 in 2023 after four attempts. Learn her preparation strategy, booklist,...
Ankita Parashar RAS 2023
4 Attempts, 1 Dream, 0 Excuses: Meet RAS Topper Ankita Parashar, Who Fulfilled a Daughter’s Promise & Secured Rank 2 | Exclusive Interview
Ankita Parashar, a teacher-turned-officer from Pushkar, fulfilled her late father’s dream by securing...
Kushal Chaudhary RAS
From Lab Assistant’s Grit to Rajasthan Topper: How Kushal Chaudhary Topped RAS 2023 with Self-Study | Preparation, Strategy & Interview
Kushal Chaudhary, a farmer’s son and lab assistant from Ajmer, topped RAS 2023 through self-study, overcoming...
Social Media
IFS Parveen Kaswan
Heartbreak by the River: 15-Day-Old Elephant Calf Rejected by Mother, Rescued by IFS Parveen Kaswan and His Team
Jaldapra, West Bengal: In a moving incident that tugs at the heart, a 15-day-old elephant calf was rescued...
Ashwini Bhide IAS and Anand Mahindra
Who Is IAS Ashwini Bhide, Hailed as a Role Model for Mumbai Metro Transformation by Anand Mahindra?
From heritage to high-tech: Bhide’s leadership in Metro Line 3 earns public praise and admiration
World Rhino Day India
On World Rhino Day, IFS Officer Parveen Kaswan Shares Rare Insights - India Now Hosts 80% of the World’s One-Horned Rhinos
September 22 Marks Global Call for Rhino Conservation; India Holds 80% of World’s Greater One-Horned...
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Latest
Satpura Tiger Reserve
Satpura Tiger Reserve Sees New Tiger Cubs; Jhalai’s First Litter Captured
Madhya Pradesh Logo IM
Hotel & Resort Operators Can Now Conduct Jungle Safaris in MP Tiger Reserves
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Videos
WhatsApp Image 2025-10-23 at 10.40
WhatsApp Image 2025-10-19 at 12.23
WhatsApp Image 2025-10-16 at 15.16
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT