Subsidized LPG cap raised to 12 cylinders

Ahead of the general elections due by May this year, the Cabinet raised the quota of subsidised LPG cylinders to 12 from nine, a move which will benefit 14 crore consumers.

In February and March, the consumers would be an extra subsidised cylinder each beyond their quota of nine cylinders. From April, they would get a subsidised cylinder every month.

The move would increase the subsidy burden of the government by Rs 5,000 crore, Petroleum Minister Veerappa Moily said.

In another move, the government deferred the scheme of linking Aadhaar number to bank accounts for getting subsidised LPG cylinders.

Congress Vice President Rahul Gandhi had earlier asked the government to raise the number of subsidised cylinders that households get in a year.

The government had initially capped the supply of subsidised domestic LPG cylinders to six per household in September 2012 in a bid to cut its subsidy bill. It was raised to 9 in January 2013.