Delhi Free Gas Cylinder Scheme

Balasahana Suresh
🪔 What’s the New delhi Scheme About?

The Delhi government has announced a welfare scheme under which eligible households with valid ration cards in the national capital will receive financial assistance equivalent to the cost of LPG (cooking gas) cylinders on the festivals of Holi and Diwali. This means residents will effectively get one free LPG cylinder on each of these two festivals every year.

The decision was taken by the Delhi Cabinet and announced by Chief minister Rekha Gupta as part of the government’s efforts to reduce household expenses and help people during festive seasons.

🧑‍👩‍👧 Who Is Eligible?

✔️ All families with a valid delhi ration card — this includes both LPG and PNG (piped natural gas) users.
This universal coverage means the benefit is not just for LPG users but for families with piped cooking fuel too.

No separate enrollment process has been announced yet — the government will use the ration card database to identify beneficiaries.

💰 How the “Free Cylinder” Benefit Is Given

👉 Instead of physically giving gas cylinders, the government will transfer money into beneficiaries’ bank accounts — this is done through Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT).

  • The amount transferred will be equivalent to the retail price of one LPG cylinder (about 853 in Delhi).
  • This transfer happens before holi and again before diwali each year, so a family gets support twice annually.
  • Funds are sent to the Aadhaar‑linked bank account of the head of the household.
For beneficiaries under the Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana (PMUY), the amount will be adjusted — they will receive a slightly different payout because of the existing Central subsidy on cylinders.

📅 When Will It Start?

  • The scheme is slated to begin with Holi2026, meaning the first financial assistance for a festival will be transferred ahead of Holi.
  • The same process will repeat ahead of Diwali every year thereafter.
🏛️ Why This Scheme Was Launched

The scheme is part of the delhi government’s welfare agenda, and it was also included in the BJP’s campaign promises during the 2025 delhi Assembly elections. Providing financial relief on essential household items like cooking fuel data-aligns with efforts to ease inflationary pressures on low‑income families.

Chief minister Rekha Gupta described it as more than just financial assistance — a step to ensure dignity and festive relief for families during major celebrations.

💡 How Much It Will Cost and Budget Allocation

  • The delhi government has allocated around 242crore for this annual scheme for the first year.
  • The actual expenditure may change depending on LPG price changes and the number of beneficiaries.
🧾 Key Points to Remember

✔️ You don’t need to apply separately — benefits will be sent based on ration card records.
✔️ Money is given via DBT into your bank account — not as physical cylinder deliveries.
✔️ Valid Aadhaar‑linked bank details help ensure the benefit reaches you.
✔️ Assistance is given even if you didn’t refill a cylinder that month — it’s a festive support scheme, not a purchase reimbursement program.

🪔 In Simple Terms

Each year on Holi and Diwali, eligible families in delhi will receive money in their accounts that covers the cost of an LPG cylinder. This ensures they are not burdened by cooking fuel costs during festivals, helping to make celebrations easier on household budgets.

 

Disclaimer:

The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of any agency, organization, employer, or company. All information provided is for general informational purposes only. While every effort has been made to ensure accuracy, we make no representations or warranties of any kind, express or implied, about the completeness, reliability, or suitability of the information contained herein. Readers are advised to verify facts and seek professional advice where necessary. Any reliance placed on such information is strictly at the reader’s own risk.

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