New Delhi: In a major relief to Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana beneficiaries, the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) has extended the subsidy of two hundred rupees per LPG cylinder for a period of one year. As on Mar 1 this year, there are 9.59 crore Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana beneficiaries.
Information and Broadcasting Minister Anurag Singh Thakur told reporters that the subsidy of Rs 200 per LPG cylinder would be provided to the beneficiaries for up to 12 refills per year. He said there has been a sharp increase in international prices of LPG due to various geopolitical reasons, and it is important to shield Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana beneficiaries from high LPG prices.
Anurag Singh Thakur said the total expenditure on it in 2022-23 will be Rs 6,100 crore, and in 2023-24 will be Rs 7, 680 crore. Public sector oil marketing companies, namely Indian Oil Corporation Limited, Bharat
Petroleum Corporation Limited and Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Limited have already been providing this subsidy since May 22 last year. The subsidy is credited directly to the bank accounts of the eligible beneficiaries.
The average LPG consumption of Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana consumers has increased by 20 per cent from 3.01 refills in 2019-20 to 3.68 in 2021-22. To make Liquified Petroleum Gas (LPG) available to rural and deprived poor households, the Government launched Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana in May 2016 to provide deposit-free LPG connections to adult women of poor households.
Cabinet enhances DA for Central Government employees:
The Union cabinet has increased the Dearness Allowance by four per cent, taking the total to 42 per cent of the Basic Pay for Central Government employees and pensioners. Briefing the media, I&B Minister Anurag Singh Thakur said this would benefit over 47 lakh Central Government employees and more than 69 lakh pensioners.
The Cabinet also gave its approval to release an additional instalment of Dearness Allowance to Central Government employees and Dearness Relief to Pensioners with effect from Jan 1, 2023. The combined impact on the exchequer on account of both Dearness Allowance and Dearness Relief will be over Rs 12, 815 crore per annum.
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