SRINAGAR: The Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas has clarified that biometric Aadhaar authentication (eKYC) is not compulsory for all LPG consumers, countering reports suggesting a blanket requirement.
In an official statement, the ministry said the ongoing eKYC drive is part of routine measures to enhance transparency and is not a newly introduced rule. It added that the requirement applies only to those consumers who have not yet completed the process.
Officials confirmed that users who have already undergone eKYC earlier are not required to repeat it. For beneficiaries under the Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana (PMUY), eKYC is needed only once in a financial year and only for availing targeted direct benefit transfer subsidies beyond a certain number of refills.
The ministry further stated that the eKYC process is simple, free of cost and can also be completed through home-based options.
Reassuring consumers, it said the supply of LPG refills remains unaffected and there is no risk of disruption.
According to officials, the initiative is aimed at improving transparency, identifying genuine beneficiaries, eliminating duplicate or fake connections and ensuring that subsidies reach eligible households.
