Strengthening Energy Resilience Through Social Protection: A Case Study of the Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana in India

This paper focuses on India’s Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana, a flagship central government scheme to provide clean cooking fuel (liquefied petroleum gas or LPG) to women from poor households. It draws on a survey of 8,473 households across eight states. The study noted that LPG can be more cost-effective than firewood, and that households that used LPG as a primary fuel experienced better indoor air quality and fewer cooking-related injuries. The paper discusses ways of encouraging consistent LPG usage, such as by changing the subsidy structures, enabling installment-based payment, providing wider access to piped gas, and promoting the economic and health benefits of clean cooking fuels.