Aadhaar checks stopped LPGsubsidy to 4.08 cr false claimers: Puri

The Aadhaar-based authentication under the PAHAL scheme for the direct benefit transfer of LPG subsidy has played a crucial role in identifying and blocking ghost accounts, multiple accounts, and inactive connections, thereby curbing the diversion of subsidised LPG for commercial use, Minister of Petroleum and Natural Gas Hardeep Singh Puri informed Parliament on Tuesday. As of July 1 this year, as many as 4.08 crore duplicate, fake, and inactive LPG connections have been blocked, suspended, or deactivated, the minister said in a written reply to a question in the Rajya Sabha.
The minister said that Aadhaar-based authentication for DBT schemes enables accurate, real-time, and cost-effective identification, authentication, and de-duplication of beneficiaries, ensuring targeted delivery of benefits. The government had directed public sector oil marketing companies to undertake and complete biometric Aadhaar authentication of PMUY and PAHAL beneficiaries. He said that focused efforts have been made to ensure that all consumers become Aadhaar Transfer Compliant. As of July 1, 92.44 per cent of active LPG consumers out of a total 33.05 crore have their Aadhaar seeded in the database of the oil companies. Around 86.78 per cent of the total 30.63 crore DBTL consumers are Aadhaar Transfer Compliant.
As of July 1 this year, biometric Aadhaar authentication has also been completed for 67 per cent of the existing PMUY beneficiaries. Further, all new PMUY consumers undergo biometric authentication before the release of connections, the minister said.
Since inception, as a result of comprehensive deduplication exercises, 8.49 lakh PMUY connections have been terminated. He added that, in January 2025, a Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) was issued for the removal of PMUY consumers who had not taken any refills after installation of their connection. Under this SOP, around 12,000 inactive PMUY connections have been terminated, the minister said.