Aadhaar Biometric Authentication Made Mandatory for Subsidised LPG Refills From October 1
NEW DELHI: Domestic LPG consumers will need to complete Biometric Aadhaar Authentication (BAA) to book refills at the regulated retail selling price with applicable subsidy from October 1, 2026. The Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas said the measure is intended to ensure that subsidised cooking gas reaches genuine and eligible households.
Aadhaar Biometric Authentication Deadline Confirmed
Under the new Petroleum Ministry rules, consumers who have already completed Aadhaar biometric authentication will not need to take any further action. As of September 19, 27.43 crore active domestic LPG consumers, or 89.9% of the total, had completed the process.
The government said the requirement is linked specifically to subsidised LPG refills at the regulated retail selling price. Consumers who do not complete the verification will not be denied LPG altogether, but they will not receive the subsidy associated with the regulated price.
The official announcement is available through the Press Information Bureau, which said the authentication process is intended to make subsidy delivery more targeted.
Why The Government Is Introducing The Rule
The ministry said Aadhaar biometric authentication links each domestic LPG connection to an Aadhaar-authenticated consumer. It said this can help identify duplicate and ineligible connections and prevent subsidised domestic cylinders from being diverted for commercial or industrial use.
The government has been running a nationwide authentication campaign since October 2023. It said more than 12 crore SMS and WhatsApp messages have been sent, while distributors and delivery staff have followed up with consumers who had not completed the process.
The original deadline was June 30, 2026. It was subsequently extended several times, with the final deadline ending on September 14.
How Consumers Can Complete Authentication
Consumers who have not completed Aadhaar biometric authentication have several options under the government’s Petroleum Ministry rules.
The process can be completed during LPG refill delivery, at the distributor’s showroom or through the mobile application of the relevant oil marketing company. These options are intended to make verification available without requiring consumers to visit a separate government office.
The ministry has also said that consumers who have already completed BAA do not need to repeat the process.
What Changes From October 1
From October 1, subsidised LPG refills will require completed biometric authentication for booking at the regulated retail selling price with applicable subsidy.
The government said the measure is not intended to prevent genuine households from obtaining LPG. Instead, consumers who have not completed verification will have to receive the cylinder without the applicable subsidy.
With 27.43 crore consumers already authenticated, the government said the majority of active domestic LPG connections are already covered. The remaining consumers now have limited time to complete the process before the October 1 enforcement date.
For households that depend on subsidised cooking gas, completing Aadhaar biometric authentication before the deadline is therefore the key requirement under the new Petroleum Ministry rules governing subsidised LPG refills.
