Source : INDIA TODAY NEWS
Domestic cooking gas prices in India were raised by Rs 29 per cylinder on Sunday, marking the second increase in three months as state-run oil marketing companies continue to grapple with rising global energy costs triggered by the ongoing conflict in West Asia.
The latest revision takes the price of a 14.2-kg domestic LPG cylinder in Delhi to Rs 942 from Rs 913. It follows a Rs 60 hike announced on March 7, when disruptions in West Asia had already pushed international fuel prices higher.
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The government defended the latest increase, arguing that domestic consumers remain largely shielded from the sharp rise in global fuel costs caused by geopolitical tensions in the region.
According to the government, the actual cost of supplying a 14.2-kg LPG cylinder has risen to more than Rs 1,600, while consumers in Delhi will pay Rs 942 after the latest revision. Beneficiaries of the Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana (PMUY) will continue to receive subsidised refills at an effective price of Rs 642.
India’s heavy reliance on imported LPG continues to leave households vulnerable to global price shocks. According to the Petroleum Planning & Analysis Cell, between April 2025 and March 2026, around 60 per cent of the country’s LPG requirement was met through imports. During the period, India consumed about 33.2 million tonnes of LPG, while domestic production stood at roughly 13.1 million tonnes.
PNG ACCESS REMAINS LIMITED TO FEW URBAN POCKETS
Despite the government’s push to expand city gas distribution networks and household access to piped natural gas (PNG), coverage remains concentrated in a handful of states.
According to the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas, Delhi leads the country in PNG penetration, with 5.4 per cent of households connected to piped gas. Gujarat follows at 3.2 per cent and Maharashtra at 1.8 per cent, while Haryana and Dadra & Nagar Haveli and Daman & Diu each record penetration of 1.2 per cent.
PNG coverage remains very low across several populous states despite the expansion drive. Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, Bihar, Tamil Nadu and West Bengal all reported penetration levels below 1 per cent, underscoring the limited reach of piped cooking gas infrastructure beyond a few urban centres.
The uneven spread of PNG infrastructure means a large share of Indian households continues to depend almost entirely on LPG cylinders for cooking fuel, leaving consumers exposed to volatile global energy markets.
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SOURCE :- TIMES OF INDIA
