Now Reading: LPG subsidy: biometric Aadhaar must from October 1, 2026
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LPG subsidy: biometric Aadhaar must from October 1, 2026
From October 1, 2026, domestic LPG customers must complete biometric Aadhaar authentication (BAA) to book subsidised cylinders at the retail selling price. Those who have not yet completed the process must do…
From October 1, 2026, domestic LPG customers must complete biometric Aadhaar authentication (BAA) to book subsidised cylinders at the retail selling price. Those who have not yet completed the process must do so before booking a subsidised refill. Customers who have already finished BAA need not repeat it and can continue booking as usual.
The authentication can be done at the time of delivery, at the distributor's showroom, or at home via apps, IndianOil ONE for Indane, HelloBPCL for Bharatgas, and HP PAY for HP Gas. Customers who do not wish to complete BAA can opt out through the company portal, app, WhatsApp, or IVRS, they will receive a non-subsidised 5 kg or 10 kg cylinder at market price, subject to local stock.
As of September 19, 2026, 27.43 crore of the 30.5 crore active domestic LPG customers, 89.9%, had completed BAA. The government aims to target subsidies accurately and prevent commercial use of domestic cylinders. Those yet to authenticate can complete it before the deadline or call the toll-free helpline 1800 2333 555 for assistance.
Indian Opinion Analysis
The October 1 deadline caps a nearly three-year drive that began in October 2023, after the government found large-scale diversion of subsidised domestic cylinders to commercial users. Under the RBI's 2016 Aadhaar framework, the authentication links the beneficiary's identity directly to the subsidy transfer, a mechanism the Supreme Court upheld in its 2018 Aadhaar judgment for welfare schemes. The 10.1% of customers yet to authenticate, roughly 3 crore households, face the choice of either completing BAA or buying costlier non-subsidised cylinders, a significant cost shift given the current indirect subsidy of about Rs 210 per 14.2 kg cylinder. The oil marketing companies' cumulative under-recovery on domestic LPG exceeded Rs 62,000 crore by August 31, 2026, underscoring the fiscal pressure behind the mandate. The next milestone is October 1, when the new rule takes effect and the opt-out mechanism is tested for the first time at scale.
Source: bazaar.businesstoday.in
This brief was synthesised by AI from the source linked above.
