India eases LPG rules for households switching to piped natural gas

The Indian central government, led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, has amended regulations governing liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) to give consumers with newly installed piped natural gas (PNG) connections greater flexibility. Under the new rules, households that hold both an LPG cylinder and a PNG connection can either surrender their LPG supply within 30 days of obtaining PNG or receive a “transfer voucher” that allows them to reactivate LPG later if they move to an area without PNG service.

The change targets frequent movers such as government and bank employees, migrant families, tenants, and students, aiming to reduce administrative hassle and potential extra costs. Official data note that roughly 7.99 lakh PNG connections have been commissioned and an additional 2.87 lakh are planned, bringing the total to about 10.86 lakh connections since March. In the same period, 1.72 crore domestic LPG cylinders were delivered. The government framed the amendment as a measure to alleviate consumer pressure amid rising fuel prices and broader inflation.

The policy also encourages digital booking of LPG and cautions against panic buying, while public‑sector oil companies have conducted awareness campaigns for small‑cylinder users.