The government is going to introduce a new requirement for consumers receiving subsidised domestic LPG refills, with Biometric Aadhaar Authentication becoming mandatory from October 1, 2026.
According to the Petroleum and Natural Gas Ministry, domestic LPG consumers who want to book subsidised refills at the regulated Retail Selling Price will need to have completed the Aadhaar-based biometric authentication process.
The measure aims to ensure that the benefits of subsidised LPG are targeted to genuine and eligible households. The government is working on improving subsidy delivery to make it more targeted and transparent, and Aadhaar authentication will make an LPG connection less distant from the consumer to whom it is going to benefit.
Under the new requirement, consumers who have not completed Biometric Aadhaar Authentication will need to do so before booking a subsidised domestic LPG refill at the regulated price with the applicable subsidy. This rule specifically applies to subsidised domestic LPG refills, so authentication will be particularly important to households who continue to get LPG under the government-supported pricing mechanism.
The Petroleum and Natural Gas Ministry has said that 27.43 crore LPG consumers have already completed Biometric Aadhaar Authentication. These consumers do not need to take any further action based on the authentication requirement. The October 1 deadline therefore primarily concerns consumers whose biometric verification remains incomplete.
The authentication exercise is also intended to address duplicate or ineligible LPG connections. According to the ministry, linking subsidised LPG connections with Aadhaar-authenticated consumers can help identify connections that may not meet eligibility requirements. The measure is also intended to reduce the possibility of subsidised domestic LPG cylinders being diverted for commercial or industrial use.
For consumers who have not yet done the process, the government has several options. Biometric Aadhaar Authentication can be completed at the time of LPG cylinder delivery or at the LPG distributor's showroom. This gives consumers the chance to complete the verification as a part of their regular LPG delivery process or through a direct visit to a distributor.
The consumers can also use the mobile applications of Oil Marketing Companies (OMCs) to complete the authentication process. The availability of multiple channels is intended to make the process more accessible and reduce the need for every consumer to visit a distributor in person.
The government has also emphasized that the measure is not intended to deny LPG supplies to actual households. Rather, this is to ensure that subsidised domestic LPG benefits are given to those who are eligible for them. Consumers who have already completed biometric authentication do not need to go through it again.
The October 1 deadline means households with pending authentication may want to complete the process before trying to book their next subsidised refill. Authentication is connected to subsidised refills at the regulated Retail Selling Price, so completing the verification in advance can help avoid any problem when booking a cylinder after the new requirement takes effect.
The latest LPG authentication requirement comes as the government continues to use digital identification and verification systems to better target welfare benefits. Aadhaar-based authentication has become more prevalent across government-linked services to verify beneficiaries and reduce duplication.
For LPG consumers, the key point is that the requirement applies only to subsidised domestic refills. The 27.43 crore consumers who have already received Biometric Aadhaar Authentication are not required to take any further action. Consumers whose authentication is still pending have until October 1, 2026 to complete the process through delivery personnel, their distributor’s showroom or the relevant OMC mobile application.
As the deadline approaches, consumers receiving subsidised LPG should check whether their Aadhaar biometric authentication has been completed and take the necessary steps if it remains pending.
