Daijiworld Media Network - New Delhi

New Delhi, Sep 20: The central government has announced that Biometric Aadhaar Authentication (BAA) will be mandatory for domestic LPG consumers from October 1 to book refills at the regulated retail selling price with applicable subsidies.

In a statement, the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas clarified that linking each connection to an Aadhaar-authenticated consumer will prevent the diversion of subsidised domestic cylinders for commercial and industrial use. The move is also aimed at identifying and removing duplicate and ineligible connections to ensure only deserving households benefit from the scheme.

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The ministry assured that the process is not intended to deny LPG to genuine households. Consumers who have already completed the BAA process do not need to reapply, and their refills will continue without interruption. For those who are yet to complete the authentication, subsidized refill bookings will be enabled immediately after the process is finished.

Consumers have been provided with multiple easy options to complete the BAA process:

• During delivery: Delivery personnel can complete the authentication on the spot using the OMC mobile application.

• At distributor showrooms: Consumers can visit their respective LPG distributors to complete the authentication in person.

• Via OMC mobile apps: Customers can complete the process independently from home using the IndianOil ONE app for Indane, HelloBPCL for Bharatgas, and HP PAY for HP Gas.

Those uninterested in completing the BAA can formally opt out by registering their choice on OMC digital channels, including web portals, mobile apps, WhatsApp chatbots, or IVRS. These consumers will continue to receive LPG in 5 kg or 10 kg cylinders at the applicable market price without any subsidy, subject to local availability.

The government had previously extended the deadline for mandatory authentication several times, moving it from June 30 to a final date of September 14. A nationwide authentication drive has been actively underway since October 2023, with oil marketing companies reaching out to consumers through SMS, WhatsApp messages, special camps, and distributor networks.

Highlighting the financial context, the ministry noted that the implicit subsidy for a 14.2-kg cylinder stood at around Rs 210 in September 2026, compared to Rs 721 in June, as part of the government's continued fiscal support to keep domestic LPG affordable.