Domestic LPG consumers will need to complete Biometric Aadhaar Authentication (BAA) to continue getting subsidised refills at the regulated retail price from October 1, 2026.
The government has made the authentication mandatory for consumers who want to receive the applicable LPG subsidy. The move is aimed at ensuring that subsidised cooking gas reaches genuine households and at reducing duplicate or ineligible connections.
A large majority of consumers have already completed the process. As of September 19, 27.43 crore active domestic LPG consumers, or 89.9% of the total, had completed biometric Aadhaar authentication. These consumers do not need to take any further action, and their LPG refill bookings will continue as usual.
Consumers who have not completed the verification can still do so before the new requirement takes effect. The process can be completed when an LPG cylinder is delivered, at the consumer’s LPG distributor showroom or through the official mobile application of the relevant oil marketing company.
Indane customers can use the IndianOil ONE app, Bharatgas customers can use HelloBPCL, while HP Gas consumers can use HP PAY. The government has said the authentication can also be completed from home through these apps.
The biometric verification is being introduced to connect each LPG connection with an Aadhaar-authenticated consumer. The government says this will help prevent the diversion of subsidised domestic cylinders for commercial and industrial use and make the subsidy system more targeted.
The change does not mean that people who do not complete biometric authentication will be completely denied LPG. Consumers who are unwilling or unable to complete BAA can continue receiving cylinders, but they will have to register their choice through their oil marketing company’s digital channels.
These channels include the consumer portal, mobile application, WhatsApp chatbot and IVRS service. Such consumers will receive LPG at the applicable market price without subsidy, with 5-kg or 10-kg cylinders available subject to local supply.
The government had initially asked consumers to complete Aadhaar authentication by June 30, 2026. The deadline was extended several times, with September 14 being the latest deadline. The new October 1 requirement now applies specifically to consumers seeking subsidised refills at the regulated retail selling price.
Oil marketing companies have been carrying out a nationwide awareness campaign to encourage consumers to complete the process. Since October 2023, more than 12 crore SMS and WhatsApp messages have been sent to consumers. LPG distributors and delivery personnel have also contacted customers who had not completed the verification.
Special authentication camps have been organised at LPG distributorships, high-footfall locations and rural areas to make the process easier for consumers who may not be comfortable completing it digitally.
The change is also linked to the government’s wider effort to control the distribution of subsidised cooking gas. Domestic LPG is sold below its cost, with the government providing financial support to public-sector oil marketing companies.
The implicit subsidy on a 14.2-kg domestic LPG cylinder was around ₹210 in September 2026, compared with ₹721 in June. The government is also providing ₹30,000 crore in compensation to oil marketing companies during 2025-26 and 2026-27 to help maintain affordable domestic LPG prices.
Public-sector oil marketing companies had accumulated domestic LPG under-recoveries of more than ₹62,000 crore as of August 31, 2026, according to government figures. The authentication system is expected to help ensure that the financial support provided for subsidised LPG reaches eligible consumers.
The government has also clarified that consumers who have already completed BAA do not need to repeat the exercise. Their existing LPG connections and subsidy arrangements will continue under the current system.
Consumers who have not yet completed the process have been advised to act before October 1 to avoid having to pay the market price for their subsidised LPG refills.
The government has provided a toll-free LPG services helpline at 1800 2333 555 for consumers seeking assistance with authentication or other LPG-related services.
The new rule is therefore mainly a change in how the LPG subsidy is accessed rather than a ban on LPG supplies. Consumers who want to continue receiving subsidised domestic cooking gas will need to ensure that their Aadhaar biometric authentication is completed before the October 1 deadline.