LPG Aadhaar Authentication Mandatory for Subsidised Refills by Oct 1, 2026

Domestic liquefied petroleum gas consumers across India must complete Biometric Aadhaar Authentication by October 1, 2026 to continue booking subsidised cylinder refills, according to government releases. As of September 19, nearly 90 percent of active users had finished the verification process, while non-compliant households face market-determined pricing.

The October 1 Deadline and Authentication Status

The central government has set an effective deadline of October 1, 2026 for domestic liquefied petroleum gas consumers to complete their biometric verification if they wish to keep receiving subsidised cylinder refills, the government said in a release. Out of the total consumer base, 27.43 crore active domestic LPG consumers—representing 89.9 per cent—had finished the process as of September 19 and require no further action according to the Petroleum and Natural Gas Ministry. Their scheduled refill bookings will proceed without interruption.

For the remaining households, the requirement introduces a firm administrative filter. As on September 14, when the deadline for eKYC ended, approximately 3.16 crore domestic LPG consumers across the nation had not completed the required biometric authentication. The rollout follows multiple deadline extensions from an initial target of June 30, 2026, moving successively through July 31, August 7, August 15, August 23, August 31, September 7, and September 14 to give consumers more time.

How Consumers Can Complete Verification

The ministry and state-run oil marketing companies have outlined three distinct channels for completing Biometric Aadhaar Authentication free of charge. Users can finalize the procedure during cylinder delivery through biometric-enabled handheld devices operated by delivery personnel using the Oil Marketing Company mobile application. Alternatively, consumers can visit their local distributor showroom or complete self-eKYC from home through the mobile application provided by their oil marketing company.

Indane customers can use the IndianOil ONE mobile application.
Bharatgas customers can complete the process via HelloBPCL.
HP Gas consumers can authenticate their credentials through the HP PAY application.

To assist the public, video tutorials detailing the self-verification steps have been made available on the official Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana portal. State-run fuel retailers have also maintained a nationwide outreach campaign since October 2023, issuing over 12 crore SMS and WhatsApp alerts, conducting follow-ups by distributors and delivery staff, and organizing special camps.

Consequences for Unauthenticated Users

Consumers who are unwilling or unable to undergo biometric authentication will still be permitted to purchase cooking gas, but they will have to pay the prevailing market price without any explicit or implicit subsidy. Such consumers will need to register their preference through their fuel retailer’s digital platforms, including web portals, mobile applications, WhatsApp chatbots, or interactive voice response systems. They will then be supplied with 5-kg or 10-kg cylinders, subject to local availability with the concerned oil marketing company.

The Petroleum and Natural Gas Ministry stated that the overarching goal is to ensure that subsidised LPG reaches eligible households and to prevent the diversion of domestic cylinders for commercial and industrial use. Telangana LPG Distributors’ Association president Jagan Mohan Reddy noted that his organization supports the push toward full authentication for the prudent utilization of public funds.

The Association appeals to domestic LPG consumers to complete BAA at the earliest to avoid any interruption in their essential domestic LPG supply.

Jagan Mohan Reddy, President, Telangana LPG Distributors’ Association

Fiscal Pressures and Subsidy Under-Recoveries

The strict authentication mandate arrives against a backdrop of substantial fiscal transfers. Domestic LPG continues to be sold below actual cost, with the implicit subsidy standing at around Rs 210 per 14.2 kg cylinder in September 2026, down from Rs 721 per cylinder in June. To maintain price stability, the government provided oil marketing companies with compensation of Rs 22,000 crore in 2022-23 and is disbursing Rs 30,000 crore each across 2025-26 and 2026-27.

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Despite these extensive financial transfers, accumulated under-recoveries at state-owned fuel retailers exceeded Rs 62,000 crore as of August 31, 2026, highlighting why authorities are eager to eliminate duplicate and ineligible connections. Consumers requiring assistance with the biometric verification process can contact the national toll-free helpline at 1800 2333 555.