New Delhi, Mar 17: The Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas has clarified that biometric Aadhaar authentication (eKYC) for LPG consumers is not mandatory for all users, dismissing reports suggesting a new directive requiring universal compliance.
In an official clarification, the ministry said the ongoing push for eKYC is part of routine efforts to improve transparency and is not a newly introduced rule.
The clarification comes amid confusion among consumers following circulating reports that LPG users would be required to undergo biometric authentication to continue receiving gas cylinder refills.
The ministry said the eKYC requirement applies only to those LPG consumers who have not completed the process so far.
Officials stated that consumers who have already completed their eKYC earlier do not need to repeat the process.
For beneficiaries under the Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana (PMUY), the ministry said eKYC is required only once in a financial year and that too for receiving targeted direct benefit transfer (DBT) subsidies beyond a specified number of refills.
The ministry added that the process can be completed easily and free of cost, including through home-based options.
“Supply of LPG refills is not affected in any case,” the ministry said, addressing concerns about possible disruption in gas supply.
Officials said the eKYC process is aimed at ensuring transparency, identifying genuine beneficiaries and preventing misuse of LPG subsidies.
The move is also intended to eliminate duplicate or ghost connections and ensure that benefits reach eligible households.
The clarification is expected to ease concerns among consumers, particularly in rural and semi-urban areas, where apprehensions had been raised about potential interruptions in LPG supply. [KNT]
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