As of October 1, beneficiaries who were previously registered will be required to undergo Biometric Aadhaar Authentication to receive subsidized liquid petroleum gas for household use.
The Indian government has announced that their digital ID system the [1] Biometric Aadhaar authentication will be mandatory [2] for subsidized domestic LPG refills starting October 1 of this year. To book refills at the regulated retail selling price with the applicable subsidy, domestic LPG consumers must complete the Biometric Aadhaar authentication process. The government subsidizes household cooking fuel through the Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana, which distributes fuel directly to beneficiaries, and the Pratyaksh Hanstantrit Labh programme, which deposits subsidies directly into the bank accounts of recipients. Authentication for these programmes can be conducted at fuel distributor shops, via mobile apps, or through home-visit services.
In 2015, the Ministry [3] announced that Aadhaar was not required to receive subsidies, reiterating that distributors could not deny refills to customers solely due to the absence of Aadhaar. The government instructed that any related complaints should be addressed promptly, along with appropriate actions against any distributor found in violation of this directive. “The Minister of State for Petroleum & Natural Gas Shri Dharmendra Pradhan informed the Rajya Sabha in a written reply today that Aadhaar card is not mandatory for availing or continuance of LPG refill or LPG connection. OMCs have been directed that blocking of refills of Non Cash Transfer Compliant customers at local level by LPG distributors is not permitted and complaints in this regard should be immediately taken up and resolved along with necessary action against the erring distributor as deemed fit,” said the Ministry in the statement.
In October 2023, the Indian government [4] started to promote the use of Biometric Aadhaar Authentication by fuel companies to conduct KYC checks for LPG subsidy recipients under the PMUY and PAHAL initiatives. A 2024 announcement stated that biometric identity verification enhanced the government's capacity to identify and assist intended beneficiaries. “All domestic LPG Consumers are encouraged to undergo biometric Aadhaar authentication using any of the available methods at their convenience. This flexible approach ensures that consumers can choose the method and timing that best suits their individual preference and circumstances. Significant numbers of Biometric Aadhaar Authentications were successfully conducted during Viksit Bharat Sankalp Yatra camps. Authentication activities are being undertaken at the customer’s doorstep as a part of LPG Safety Inspections/Camps which are currently undergoing. No service or benefit has been stopped for consumers whose biometric authentication has not been completed,” said government said in the statement.
The Ministry employed Aadhaar numbers, bank account information, and additional data to streamline its database of eligible LPG subsidy recipients last year, [5] leading to the deactivation of 40 million accounts. By 2025, two-thirds of PMUY beneficiaries had undergone authentication using Aadhaar biometrics, with biometrics becoming compulsory for new beneficiaries. Aadhaar is mandatory for the PM-KISAN scheme, which offers financial support to farmers, and [6] is currently utilized in nearly all transactions by the national social safety programme for the direct distribution of grains to those in need. The statement detailed the outcomes and progress of the country's digital agriculture initiatives, evaluated as of 2025, highlights several key advancements. These initiatives have improved the management of direct benefit transfer schemes for farmers, enhanced procurement and credit access, and bolstered disaster relief efforts.
Maharashtra is noted as a successful example of AgriStack implementation, where the government has transferred over 14,000 crore rupees 89 lakh farmers with Aadhaar-linked bank accounts to address Kharif 2025 crop losses. Additionally, the state has introduced AI-based advisory and credit access support. Since April 2025, obtaining [7] a farmer ID has been a mandatory requirement for farmers seeking government subsidies. The digital farmer ID, referred to as Kisan Pehchaan Patra or Kisan card, is connected to the Aadhaar biometric system and aims to function as a unified identity for agricultural stakeholders. This identity is issued by AgriStack and enables farmers to access benefits from various central and state government schemes, as well as affordable credit options and targeted advice.
Devendra Fadnavis, who [8] is the Chief Minister directed the agriculture department to implement a system for issuing digital IDs to farmers. This initiative, known as Agri Stack, provides farmers with unique digital IDs and is part of a broader government effort to facilitate easier access to affordable credit, quality agricultural inputs, and tailored advice, ultimately enhancing the agricultural sector and improving outcomes for farmers across the country.