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A Flame that Warms the Heart: The Ujjwala Story

Background and Context

• In rural India, before 2016, traditional cooking fuels were commonly used, which posed significant health and environmental risks.
• Firewood was collected from forests or common lands, producing high smoke emissions and requiring a lot of time to gather.
• Cow dung cakes were widely used in villages; while they were slow-burning, they also emitted heavy smoke.
• Coal was used in semi-urban and rural areas, releasing dense particulates into the air.
• Crop residues were a seasonal fuel source but contributed to significant indoor air pollution.
• Kerosene was used minimally due to its cost and availability, but it emitted toxic fumes.
• The World Health Organization (WHO) linked smoke from solid fuels to various health issues, including Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD), respiratory infections, and eye diseases.
• The burden of collecting these fuels was gendered, with women and girls spending 2 to 3 hours daily gathering fuel, which limited their opportunities for education and income generation.

Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana (PMUY)

• Launch Date: The Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana was launched on May 1, 2016, in Ballia, Uttar Pradesh.
• Primary Goal: The main objective of the scheme is to provide clean cooking fuel, specifically Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG), to households living Below the Poverty Line (BPL). The program targets women as the primary beneficiaries, recognizing their role in cooking and household management.
• Innovative Approach: One of the key innovations of the PMUY is that LPG connections are issued in the name of an adult woman in the household. This not only ensures that the woman is the decision-maker regarding fuel use but also formalizes her role in domestic decision-making.
• Financial Assistance: The government provides financial support of ₹1,600 per connection to cover the costs associated with setting up the LPG connection.

Implementation Phases

Phase I (2016–2019)

• Target: The initial target was to provide 5 crore connections, which was later expanded to 8 crore.
• Achievement: The target was met ahead of schedule, with the goal achieved by September 2019.
• Support Components: The government provided support for the connection cost, pressure regulator, and safety hose. The stove and first refill costs were often covered through Equated Monthly Installments (EMI) from the subsidy.

Phase II – Ujjwala 2.0 (from August 10, 2021)

• Target: Initially set for 1 crore additional connections, the target was later expanded to 1.60 crore by December 2022.
• Simplified Process: The application process was made easier with self-declaration for eligibility and minimal paperwork.
• Added Benefits: New beneficiaries received a free connection, a first-filled cylinder, and a hotplate.
• Last-mile Focus: The program was expanded to include migrants and low-income families who had previously been overlooked.

Recent Expansion and Subsidy Structure

• July 2025 Decision:. targeted subsidy of ₹300 per 14.2 kg cylinder (pro-rated for 5 kg) was introduced for PMUY beneficiaries, covering up to 9 refills per year.
• Budgetary Allocation: ₹12,000 crore was allocated for FY 2025–26 to support the subsidy program.
• Rationale: The subsidy aims to cushion beneficiaries against rising LPG prices and ensure sustained usage of LPG.

Scale and Reach

• Active Connections (as of July 2025): There are 10.33 crore PMUY beneficiaries with active connections.
• LPG Refills Delivered:. total of 234.02 crore cylinders (14.2 kg equivalent) have been delivered until February 2025.
• Daily Delivery Rate: Approximately 12.6 lakh refills are delivered per day in FY 2024–25.
• Per Capita Consumption:
  • FY 2019–20: 3.01 cylinders per year
  • FY 2023–24: 3.95 cylinders per year
  • FY 2024–25 (until March 2025): 4.43 cylinders per year

State-wise Adoption (as of December 2024)

• Uttar Pradesh: Approximately 1.85 crore households (largest rural population)
• Bihar: Approximately 1.16 crore households
• West Bengal: Approximately 1.23 crore households
• Madhya Pradesh: Approximately 88.4 lakh households (strong tribal coverage)
• Maharashtra: Approximately 52.18 lakh households

Socio-Economic Impact

• Time-saving:The scheme has saved families 2 to 3 hours per day that were previously spent on collecting fuelwood. This extra time has allowed for:
  • Income generation: Families can engage in activities such as vegetable farming or starting small businesses.
  • Education support: Mothers can spend more time helping their children with studies.
• Health benefits:The transition to LPG has led to a reduction in diseases related to indoor air pollution. Families are experiencing fewer cases of:
  • Eye irritation
  • Respiratory ailments
• Empowerment: Providing LPG connections in the name of women enhances their decision-making role within the household. It also creates a platform for community engagement through initiatives like LPG Panchayats.

Linkages with Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

• SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being. The reduction of household air pollution contributes to better health outcomes for families.
• SDG 5: Gender Equality. Empowering women through asset ownership promotes gender equality and women’s rights.
• SDG 7: Affordable and Clean Energy. The program ensures access to modern energy services, improving the quality of life.
• SDG 13: Climate Action. By reducing deforestation and biomass burning, the initiative supports climate action efforts.

Challenges

• Affordability of Refills: Despite the subsidy, some of the poorest households find it challenging to afford LPG refills, leading to usage gaps.
• Behavioural Inertia: Many families continue to use a mix of biomass fuels out of habit, hindering the full transition to LPG.
• Supply Chain Issues: Remote and tribal areas face supply chain challenges, making last-mile delivery of LPG difficult and costly.
• Refill Regularity: The per capita consumption of LPG in rural areas is still below urban averages, which are around 7 to 8 cylinders per year.

Success Factors

• Political Commitment: The program has received strong political support, with high-level monitoring and promotion by the Prime Minister.
• Targeted Beneficiary Identification: Beneficiaries were identified using the Socio-Economic Caste Census (SECC) 2011 data, and coverage was later expanded to include additional households.
• Integration with Digital Systems: The program has been integrated with digital systems, allowing for online applications and agency-switch facilities.
• Community Engagement: Initiatives like LPG Panchayats and safety awareness drives have engaged communities and promoted safe LPG usage.

Policy Evolution

• Initial Phase: The focus was on achieving connection-based targets without emphasizing usage.
• Subsequent Phase: The shift was made towards ensuring sustained usage through subsidies and behavioural change campaigns.
• Current Phase (2025–26): The focus is on balancing affordability and sustainability while reaching out to remaining unserved populations.

Broader National Impact

• Reduced Deforestation: The dependence on firewood has decreased, contributing to reduced deforestation rates. 
• Lower Black Carbon Emissions: The program has contributed to lower black carbon emissions, improving local air quality and supporting India’s climate goals. 
• Boost to Economic Activity: The demand for LPG cylinders, ancillary services, and rural delivery networks has increased, boosting economic activity in these sectors. 

India’s Metro Revolution: From Miles to Milestones

Background & Evolution 

Metro Rail refers to an Urban Mass Rapid Transit System (MRTS) designed for high-capacity, high-frequency, and eco-friendly commuting.

• Pre-2000s: Urban transport in India relied on buses, suburban rail, and road-based systems, leading to traffic congestion, pollution, and unreliable travel times.
• 2002: Delhi Metro Phase-1 commenced operations, setting global standards for punctuality, cleanliness, and safety.
• Post-2014: Metro rail gained recognition as crucial infrastructure for urban transformation and sustainable mobility.
• Global Standing: By 2025, India is projected to have the third-largest metro network in the world, following China and the USA.

Scale of Growth (2014–2025)

• Network Length: Expanded from 248 km to 1,013 km.
• Cities Covered: Increased from 5 to 23 cities.
• Ridership: Daily commuters grew from 28 lakh to 1.12 crore.
• Pace of Expansion: Accelerated from 0.68 km/month to approximately 6 km/month.
• Budget Increase: From ₹5,798 crore (2013–14) to ₹34,807 crore (2025–26).
• Domestic Manufacturing: Over 2,000 metro coaches produced in India under the Make in India initiative.

Policy & Institutional Framework

Metro Rail Policy, 2017

• Preconditions for Central Assistance: Comprehensive Mobility Plans (CMPs), establishment of Urban Metropolitan Transport Authorities (UMTAs), and a minimum Economic Internal Rate of Return (EIRR) of 14%.
• Focus Areas: Integration with other transport modes, sustainable financing, and transit-oriented development.
• PPP Component: Mandatory to leverage private expertise.

Make in India & Industrial Boost

• Procurement Mandate: At least 75% of metro cars and 25% of key equipment/subsystems must be sourced domestically.
• BEML’s Role: Supplied over 2,000 metro coaches for various cities, including Delhi, Jaipur, Kolkata, Bengaluru, and Mumbai.
• Impact: Reduced import dependency, boosted domestic manufacturing, and created skilled jobs.

Global Partnerships & Financing

• Case Study – Mumbai Metro Line 3: Cost of ₹23,136 crore, with 57.2% funding from JICA (₹13,235 crore loan).
• Financing Models: Increasingly using blended models combining foreign loans, central and state budgets, and Public-Private Partnerships (PPP).

Green Urban Mobility

• Renewable Energy Use: Examples include Delhi Metro's vertical bi-facial solar at Okhla Vihar and 1 MW rooftop solar at Khyber Pass.
• Energy Recovery: Implementation of regenerative braking across multiple metro systems.
• Green Certifications: IGBC-certified stations in cities like Delhi, Kochi, Nagpur, and Pune.
• Alignment with Climate Commitments: Initiatives support India’s climate goals and Sustainable Development Goal 11 (Sustainable Cities).

Technological Innovations

• High-Speed Regional Trains: Introduction of Namo Bharat trains operating at 160 km/h on routes like Delhi–Meerut RRTS.
• Underwater Metro: Kolkata's underwater metro under the Hooghly River, the first of its kind in India.
• Water Metro: Kochi's water metro project using electric-hybrid boats to connect 10 islands.
• ETCS Level II/Hybrid Level III Signaling: First implementation in the world using LTE backbone technology.
• Platform Screen Doors (PSD): Co-developed by Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL) and NCRTC for enhanced safety.
• National Common Mobility Card (NCMC): Facilitating multi-modal travel and retail under the “One Nation, One Card” initiative.
• QR-based Ticketing: Implementation of app-based, contactless ticketing systems.
• Unmanned Train Operations (UTO): First introduced in the Delhi Metro Magenta Line in 2020.
• Indigenous Automatic Train Supervision (i-ATS): Developed jointly by DMRC and BEL for improved operational efficiency.

Upcoming Projects (Select Examples)

• Pune Metro Phase-2: 12.75 km with 13 stations, expected to be completed in 4 years.
• Delhi Metro Extensions: Including Aerocity–IGI T1, Magenta Line extensions to Indraprastha, Tughlakabad–Kalindi Kunj, and Noida–Knowledge Park V.
• Ahmedabad Metro Phase-2A: Direct link to the airport.
• Bangalore Metro Phase-3: 45 km expansion with an estimated cost of ₹15,600 crore.
• Water Metro Expansion: Feasibility studies for expanding the water metro concept to 24 cities, including Guwahati and Dibrugarh.

Economic, Social & Environmental Impacts

• Economic: Metro systems have significantly reduced travel times, leading to increased productivity. The proximity of real estate to metro stations has seen a boost, and there has been substantial job creation in manufacturing, construction, and operations sectors.
• Social: Metro transport offers affordable and safe options, particularly benefiting women and vulnerable groups. The systems are designed to be inclusive, providing access for differently-abled passengers.
• Environmental: There is a marked reduction in greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions due to lesser reliance on fossil-fuel-based road transport. Urban air quality has improved as a result of these environmental benefits.

Strategic Significance

• Economic Growth: Metro systems are crucial for achieving India’s ambitious target of a $7.3 trillion GDP by 2030 by facilitating efficient urban mobility. 
• Energy Security: The shift to electric mass transit systems contributes to reducing oil imports, enhancing energy security. 
• Global Leadership: India is positioning itself as a global leader in sustainable urbanisation, using metro systems as a model for other countries.