LPG Cylinder Rules Changed: Gap for top-up reservations reduced to 25 days for all consumers | Today’s news
The government has reduced the minimum gap for booking domestic refills of LPG cylinders from 45 days to 25 days, Minister of State for Petroleum and Natural Gas Suresh Gopi said on Monday. The new 25-day interval will apply to all domestic LPG consumers regardless of whether they live in urban or rural areas.
What has the government changed?
The Petroleum Ministry has directed state-owned oil marketing companies (OMCs) to implement a uniform 25-day interval between LPG refill bookings with immediate effect.
Gopi posted a copy of the OMCs ministry’s letter on Facebook.
Why has the LPG reservation interval changed?
The ministry had earlier introduced different reservation intervals following the outbreak of conflict in the Middle East in February 2026 as part of measures to manage demand and ease pressure on LPG supplies.
“I am directed to refer to the above subject and say that during the outbreak of conflict in the Middle East in February 2026, the Ministry, vide PIB Press Release dated 12.03.2026, has prescribed time limits for reservation of LPG refills, i.e. 25 days in urban areas and 45 days in rural areas,” the temporary demand management measure said.
What did the Ministry of Petroleum say?
According to the ministry, the LPG reservation restrictions were put in place when supplies came under pressure following the conflict in the Middle East. However, the situation has improved since then and the backlog of refills has reduced considerably.
“In view of the current situation in LPG supply and the significant reduction in the backlog of refills compared to the situation prevailing at the time of the implementation of demand management measures, the Ministry has decided to revise the existing refill reservation interval and prescribe a refill reservation gap of 25 days uniformly for all domestic LPG consumers, including those in rural areas,” the letter said.
Which LPG companies will implement the new rule?
The ministry has asked Indian Oil Corporation Limited (IOCL), Bharat Petroleum Corporation Limited (BPCL) and Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Limited (HPCL) to follow the 25-day reservation rule between refills for domestic LPG consumers in both urban and rural areas.
The adjusted interval took effect immediately.
“OMCs are advised to take necessary steps to implement the revised topping-up interval of 25 days uniformly across urban and rural areas with immediate effect. This is subject to the approval of the concerned authority,” the letter said.
The government had earlier set maximum LPG production targets for 24 refineries and oil companies in the upstream market with a combined production capacity of 63.81 thousand metric tonnes per day (KTPD), in a bid to boost domestic cooking gas supply and increase resilience against potential supply disruptions.
(With inputs from news agency ANI)
