The war in West Asia created problems on the supply side of LPG, or cooking gas, in India, causing panic in households despite constant government assurances of adequate supplies.
A major factor in the supply disruption is the Strait of Hormuz, a key global energy corridor. Uncertainty in this transportation route has limited supply and increased costs worldwide, contributing to the recent increase in commercial LPG prices.
Change in LPG prices:
The government has hiked the cost of both domestic and commercial LPG cylinders amid supply disruptions.
The price of a 19 kg commercial cylinder was first increased by ₹144 in March, followed by another hike of approx ₹200 as of April 1. The price of a 14.2 kg gas cylinder for home cooking has increased ₹60 in early March in major cities. No revisions have been made since then.
Domestic and Commercial LPG Price in Key Indian Cities — Complete List
Below is a list of domestic and commercial LPG cylinder prices in major Indian cities.
Differences in LPG prices across states are due to local value added tax (VAT) and transport charges.
“Enough supplies, don’t panic”
Officials said the LPG reservation interval restrictions of 25 days in urban areas and 45 days in rural areas are being implemented to ensure fair distribution among consumers.
To streamline delivery, the Delivery Authentication Code (DAC) system has been made mandatory and consumers have been advised to use digital platforms such as IVRS, SMS, WhatsApp and online portals for booking LPG refills.
Officials urged consumers not to panic and assured them that fuel and LPG supplies remained stable and sufficient.
The Center is planning a big push to increase the share of electric stoves in its kitchens, according to a Mint report. The plan may involve involving multilateral financial institutions to provide zero-interest loans through the state-run Energy Efficiency Services Ltd (EESL).
EESL is likely to revamp and relaunch the three-year-old National Efficiency Cooking Program (NECP) to meet the surge in demand for what was largely a niche product before the conflict, the report added.
The government on Monday extended the deadline for introducing strict energy efficiency standards or a star rating scheme for induction hobs with worktops by six months to January 1, 2027, to encourage electric cooking.
After the outbreak of war, demand for electric stoves increased as consumers rushed to compensate for the shortage of LPG cylinders. On March 12, an Amazon India spokesperson told Mint that sales of induction cooktops had increased 30x in just two days after news of the shortage surfaced.
The prices of these hobs have also increased, although not abnormally. Basic models priced at approx ₹1,800 saw an increase of approx ₹100, while higher-end models witnessed steeper increases, according to e-commerce data.
