In observance of the Raksha Bandhan festival, the Government of India has extended significant relief to the general public by reducing the prices of domestic LPG cylinders by up to Rs 200. This decision, sanctioned by the Cabinet, will impose a financial burden of Rs 7,500 crore on the national treasury.
“Prime Minister Modi has chosen to enact a reduction of Rs 200 in the cost of domestic LPG cylinders, a gesture of goodwill to the women of our nation, coinciding with the Raksha Bandhan celebration,” stated Union Minister Anurag Thakur.
Furthermore, the minister conveyed that the Central government is also set to provide 75 lakh new LPG connections through the Ujjwala scheme.
The Central authority’s decision to lower the pricing of LPG cylinders is particularly significant with the upcoming Assembly elections scheduled in five states later this year, namely Rajasthan, Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh, Telangana, and Mizoram.
The pricing of the 14kg LPG cylinder was last revised in March, witnessing an increase of Rs 50 due to actions taken by oil marketing companies (OMCs). Conversely, the cost of the 19 kg commercial cylinder experienced a decrease of Rs 100 in August.
The prevailing rates for LPG cylinders in major urban centers, as of March, stand as follows:
Delhi: Rs 1,053
Mumbai: Rs 1,052.50
Chennai: Rs 1,068.50
Kolkata: Rs 1,079
The pivotal determination was made during a convened cabinet session chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The five aforementioned states – Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Telangana, Chhattisgarh, and Mizoram – are scheduled to undergo electoral proceedings by the end of this year, while the Lok Sabha elections are slated for early next year.
