NE NEWS SERVICE
NEW DELHI, SEPT 20
For millions of households dependent on subsidised cooking gas, completing biometric Aadhaar authentication before booking the next refill could make a difference to their household budgets from October 1, when the government’s authentication requirement takes effect for subsidised domestic LPG bookings.
- 89.9% of active domestic LPG consumers complete biometric authentication; 27.43 crore covered as of September 19
- Pending consumers must authenticate to book subsidised refills at the regulated retail selling price
- LPG remains available at market price for those unable or unwilling to complete authentication
- Consumers can authenticate during delivery, at distributor showrooms or through oil companies’ mobile apps
- Government cites subsidy targeting and prevention of duplicate connections and diversion; OMC under-recoveries exceed ₹62,000 crore
The Petroleum and Natural Gas Ministry said on Saturday that domestic LPG consumers would have to complete biometric Aadhaar authentication (BAA) to book refills at the regulated retail selling price with applicable subsidy from October 1. The stated objective is to ensure that subsidised cooking gas reaches eligible households while curbing diversion and duplicate or ineligible connections.
The ministry’s latest figures offer some reassurance: 27.43 crore active domestic LPG consumers, or 89.9% of the total, had completed biometric Aadhaar authentication as of September 19. Consumers who have already completed the process need not take any further action.
For those still awaiting authentication, the message is clear: complete the process before booking the next subsidised refill to avoid disruption in access to the regulated subsidised price.
Authentication: What changes from October 1?
According to the ministry, subsidised refill booking will be enabled for consumers yet to complete authentication once they have completed the process.
The requirement effectively distinguishes between access to subsidised domestic LPG and access to LPG at the applicable market price. Consumers who do not complete biometric authentication will still be able to receive LPG, but without subsidy and at the prevailing market price.
The government has urged the remaining consumers to complete the process before October 1, using the available digital or in-person channels.
Multiple routes for consumers
To make authentication accessible, consumers can complete the process through several routes:
- During delivery of their LPG cylinder.
- At their LPG distributor’s showroom.
- Through the mobile applications of the three state-owned oil marketing companies (OMCs): IndianOil ONE for Indane, HelloBPCL for Bharatgas and HP PAY for HP Gas.
Consumers who are unwilling or unable to complete biometric authentication can register their choice through OMC digital channels, including websites, mobile applications, WhatsApp chatbots and Interactive Voice Response System (IVRS) facilities.
They can receive 5-kg or 10-kg cylinders, subject to local availability, the ministry said.
Repeated deadline extensions
The nationwide biometric authentication drive has been underway since October 2023. The government had initially asked consumers to complete the process by June 30, but subsequently extended the deadline several times.
The revised deadlines were July 31, August 7, August 15, August 23, August 31, September 7 and, finally, September 14.
Oil marketing companies have undertaken extensive outreach to encourage consumers to complete authentication. According to the ministry, they have sent more than 12 crore SMS and WhatsApp messages and reached out through distributors, delivery personnel, special camps, IVRS prompts and other channels.
Subsidy support and mounting OMC losses
The authentication requirement comes amid substantial government financial support to keep domestic LPG affordable, even as public-sector oil marketing companies continue to face significant under-recoveries.
The ministry said the implicit subsidy on a 14.2-kg domestic LPG cylinder was around ₹210 in September 2026, compared with ₹721 in June.
The government paid public-sector OMCs ₹22,000 crore in compensation for domestic LPG under-recoveries in 2022-23. It is paying ₹30,000 crore in each of 2025-26 and 2026-27, the ministry said.
Despite this support, accumulated under-recoveries on domestic LPG at state-owned OMCs exceeded ₹62,000 crore as of August 31, 2026.
What consumers should do now
For households seeking to retain access to the regulated subsidised price, completing biometric Aadhaar authentication before October 1 is the immediate priority.
The government says the exercise is intended to make subsidy delivery more targeted, reduce leakage and ensure that subsidised connections are linked to Aadhaar-authenticated consumers.
Consumers who have already completed authentication need not repeat it. Those yet to do so can use the available delivery-based, distributor or digital options.
For assistance, the LPG services helpline is 1800 2333 555.
