New Delhi: With over 10.35 crore LPG beneficiaries, ethanol blending crossing 19 per cent, and the national gas grid extending beyond 25,000 km, 2025 marked a year of scale, reach and reform for India’s petroleum and natural gas sector.
During the year, the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas focused on affordable energy access, infrastructure expansion, cleaner fuels and domestic production, aligned with the national priorities of energy access, efficiency, sustainability and security.
Ensuring universal access to clean cooking fuel remained central. Under the Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana, beneficiary coverage reached about 10.35 crore households by December 1, 2025. To clear pending applications and move towards saturation, the government approved the release of 25 lakh additional LPG connections in FY 2025-26. The eligibility process was simplified through a single Deprivation Declaration, replacing the earlier multi-point system.
Targeted subsidies of ₹300 per 14.2 kg cylinder for up to nine refills annually for PMUY beneficiaries supported affordability. This translated into rising usage, with average per capita LPG consumption increasing from about three refills in 2019-20 to 4.47 refills in FY 2024-25, and further to a pro-rated 4.85 refills per annum in FY 2025-26.
Subsidy targeting and transparency were strengthened through expanded biometric Aadhaar authentication, covering 71 per cent of PMUY consumers and 62 per cent of non-PMUY consumers by December 2025. A nationwide drive launched in November enabled free mobile-based authentication.
Consumer safety remained a focus. More than 12.12 crore free basic safety checks were conducted at customer premises, while 4.65 crore LPG hoses were replaced at discounted rates during the year.
Fuel retail infrastructure also expanded. Over 90,000 retail outlets were enabled with digital payments, supported by 2.71 lakh POS terminals, while more than 3,200 bowsers improved door-to-door delivery in remote areas. Toilet facilities were ensured at nearly all outlets under the Swachh Bharat Mission.
Electric mobility saw continued growth, with 8,932 EV charging stations installed under FAME-II and over 18,500 additional chargers set up by oil marketing companies. More than 500 truckers’ wayside amenities were established under the APNA GHAR initiative.
Public sector oil marketing companies progressed on setting up 4,000 Energy Stations between 2024-25 and 2028-29, with 1,064 stations operational by November 2025.
The gas-based economy expanded further. Operational natural gas pipelines increased to 25,429 km by June 2025, with another 10,459 km under execution. About 90 per cent of operational pipelines were brought under the Unified Pipeline Tariff regime. City Gas Distribution expanded to 307 geographical areas, with 1.57 crore PNG domestic connections and over 8,400 CNG stations.
Biofuel initiatives delivered significant outcomes. Ethanol blending averaged 19.24 per cent in 2024-25, resulting in cumulative foreign exchange savings exceeding ₹1.55 lakh crore. Second-generation ethanol plants at Panipat and Numaligarh became operational, while indicative Sustainable Aviation Fuel blending targets were outlined for international flights from 2027 onwards.
Upstream reforms included the enactment of the Oilfields Amendment Act, 2025. Under the Hydrocarbon Exploration Licensing Policy, 172 blocks covering over 3.78 lakh sq km were awarded, with committed investments of about $4.36 billion.
Through sustained reforms, infrastructure build-out and clean fuel initiatives, the ministry strengthened energy access and supply resilience during 2025.
