The Ministry of Petroleum & Natural Gas (MoPNG) has expanded the supply of 5 kg Free Trade LPG (FTL) cylinders, removing earlier caps and doubling daily allocations across all States and Union Territories from April 7, in a move aimed at strengthening access to clean cooking fuel and addressing rising demand.
The revised allocation, benchmarked against early March levels, is expected to support growing consumption in urban and semi-urban markets, particularly among migrant workers and low-income households. Alongside supply expansion, the Ministry has simplified access norms, allowing consumers to purchase 5 kg cylinders using basic identification such as Aadhaar or PAN card with a self-declaration, eliminating the need for permanent address proof.
Early trends indicate strong demand momentum. More than 8.9 lakh cylinders were distributed nationwide between March 23 and April 9, with peak single-day sales crossing 1.1 lakh units on April 7, reflecting robust last-mile delivery by oil marketing companies (OMCs).
To accelerate adoption and ensure safe usage, over 1,600 awareness camps have been conducted nationwide. State governments, in coordination with OMCs, are actively managing distribution to maintain equitable availability.