LPG cylinder prices cut by ₹200, ‘PM Modi’s gift for Raksha Bandhan’
LPG cylinder prices cut by ₹200, ‘PM Modi’s gift for Raksha Bandhan’
In a relief to consumers, the Union Cabinet on Tuesday reduced by ₹200 the price of a 14.2 kg LPG cooking gas cylinder as a gift for the women ahead of Raksha Bandhan. The move comes as the Centre faces increasing criticism over rising inflation.
“On the occasion of Raksha Bandhan and Onam, the government has decided to reduce the price of domestic cylinders by ₹200,” said Union Information and Broadcasting Minister Anurag Thakur. “This is a gift from PM Narendra Modi to the women of the country.”
The reduction in price also applies to beneficiaries under the Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana (PMUY).
At present, a 14.2kg LPG (liquified petroelum gas) cylinder in the national capital costs ₹1,103. Effective Wednesday, the price will come down to ₹903.
For beneficiaries of the PM’s Ujjwala scheme, the price will be ₹703. In March, government had extended a ₹200 per LPG cylinder subsidy under the PM Ujjwala scheme.
“The government will also provide 75 lakh new LPG connections for free under the Ujjwala scheme,” Thakur announced. At present, there are 9.6 crore beneficiaries of the scheme.
In July, oil marketing companies had hiked the price of domestic LPG cylinders by ₹50, following two increases in May.
The subsidy for PMUY beneficiaries was introduced in May last year as the government had announced a series of relief measures amid surging global energy prices.