New Delhi: India’s Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas on Monday announced a significant milestone for the Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana (PMUY), with the scheme now benefiting over 105.8 million households.

The ministry revealed on X (formerly Twitter) that 2.5 million new beneficiaries have been added to the program, expanding its reach to nearly 10.58 crore families nationwide.

The notification stated, “Continuing its mission to provide clean cooking fuel across the nation, the PM Ujjwala Yojana welcomes 25 lakh new beneficiaries. With an expenditure of Rs 676 crore, this expansion grows the Ujjwala family to a remarkable 10.58+ crore households.”

Since its launch in 2016, PMUY has been transformative in improving women’s empowerment, addressing health hazards caused by traditional cooking methods, and reducing the time women spend in smoke-filled kitchens.

The scheme provides free LPG connections, filled cylinders, and a hotplate to households below the poverty line (BPL), ensuring access to clean energy and safer cooking practices.

The ministry emphasized that this expansion reinforces India’s commitment to a healthier, smoke-free environment and strengthens efforts to improve household energy access for the most vulnerable families.