India launches National PNG Drive 3.0 to add 5 million gas connections

India's Union Minister for Petroleum and Natural Gas, Hardeep Singh Puri, has launched ‘National PNG Drive 3.0’ to expand the use of piped natural gas (PNG) across the country. The campaign, running from October 1, 2026, to March 31, 2027, aims to increase the share of natural gas in India's energy mix from its current level of approximately 6 percent.

The initiative sets specific targets, including 5 million new domestic PNG connections, the reactivation of 4 million inactive connections, and 5 million new registrations. The drive will involve the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas, the Petroleum and Natural Gas Regulatory Board (PNGRB), city gas distribution companies, and public sector oil marketing companies.

Efforts will focus on expanding gas networks into semi-urban and rural areas and maximizing existing infrastructure. Currently, India has established a pipeline network of 687,966 inch-kilometers, which provides the capacity for an additional 13 million domestic PNG connections. The government continues to work under the ‘One Nation, One Gas Grid’ framework to expand pipelines, distribution networks, and LNG terminals.