Biometric Aadhaar Authentication Required Only For Unauthenticated LPG Customers, Ministry Confirms

The Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas has clarified that biometric Aadhaar authentication for electronic Know Your Customer (e-KYC) is required only for “unauthenticated” LPG (liquefied petroleum gas) consumers, easing widespread public concern. The clarification comes amid heightened attention on domestic gas supplies following tensions in West Asia.

The e-KYC process, introduced to prevent misuse of LPG distribution, allows the government to verify the eligibility of consumers and reduce diversion of cooking gas. In a post on social media platform X, the ministry emphasized that the policy is not a new directive but part of ongoing efforts to encourage LPG users to complete biometric authentication.

“THIS IS NOT A FRESH DIRECTION. The recent post by the ministry is part of the ongoing efforts of the Government to encourage more LPG consumers to complete biometric Aadhaar authentication,” the ministry stated. It added that the requirement applies only to consumers who have not yet completed e-KYC. “If you are a non-PMUY customer and have completed it before, you don't need to do it again.”

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For beneficiaries of the Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana (PMUY), annual e-KYC is necessary to receive Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) subsidies on their eighth and ninth LPG refills. This verification, required once per financial year, ensures the smooth continuation of targeted subsidies and discourages ghost connections.

The ministry also reassured the public that the supply of LPG refills is not affected by e-KYC. “e-KYC can be done easily from home, free of cost. It ensures transparency, establishes clear eligibility, and discourages diversion of LPG,” the statement added. Misunderstanding around the requirement arose after a March 15 statement suggested all domestic LPG consumers must complete biometric Aadhaar authentication.

India currently has over 330 million LPG consumers, including 105.1 million PMUY beneficiaries. While e-KYC is mandatory for PMUY customers to maintain eligibility for deposit-free connections, other authenticated users are not required to repeat the process. The government has also secured the arrival of 45,000 metric tonnes of LPG at Vadinar port to stabilize domestic supply amid global uncertainties.

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