Subsidised LPG Cylinders Stopped for Non-eKYC Consumers in Telangana
New regulations stopping the supply of subsidised liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) cylinders to households that have not completed biometric Aadhaar authentication came into force on October 1 across Hyderabad and the rest of Telangana. Under the rules, consumers who fail to complete the verification will only be permitted to buy smaller 5 kg or 10 kg cylinders at unsubsidised market rates.
To purchase these smaller refills, consumers must formally register their unwillingness or inability to complete the biometric authentication, known as eKYC, and provide consent to receive free trade LPG refills. Following the September 14 deadline for verification, the Union Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas instructed oil marketing companies—including Indian Oil, Bharat Petroleum Corporation Limited, and Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Limited—to implement the new norms starting October 1.
The regulatory shift is set to significantly raise fuel expenses for affected households. In Hyderabad, a standard 14.2 kg subsidised LPG cylinder costs ₹994, which works out to approximately ₹70 per kilogram. In contrast, an unsubsidised 5 kg free trade refill costs ₹846.50, and a 10 kg composite cylinder costs ₹1,801. Furthermore, first-time buyers of free trade cylinders must pay extra for the equipment because the rates are linked to commercial LPG prices.
As part of the rollout, an oil marketing company instructed distributors that all pending orders and invoices—including prepaid bookings for both Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana and non-Ujjwala households lacking authentication—stood cancelled with effect from Wednesday. The ministry introduced the biometric requirement to ensure subsidies reach genuine beneficiaries, prevent fuel diversion, and eliminate duplicate or ineligible connections.
Telangana LPG Distributors Association president Jagan Mohan Reddy said the initial day of enforcement functioned like any normal day at distributorships, though disruptions would surface as non-compliant users attempt to book cylinders. He noted that consumers can still complete their biometric authentication at any time to resume booking subsidised refills.
Distributors across the state have been instructed to maintain adequate stocks of 5 kg and 10 kg cylinders to handle rising demand during the festive and winter seasons, Mr. Reddy added. Official records indicate Telangana has 1.26 crore active domestic LPG connections, and Mr. Reddy estimated that roughly 11 lakh users in the state have not yet finished the verification. Nationally, the central government reported that 27.43 crore users, or 89.9 percent of active domestic consumers, had completed authentication by September 19.
