LPG reservation interval for rural consumers reduced to 25 days from 45

As the LPG supply situation is now easing, the ministry has decided to cancel the differentiated timeline. Image to illustrate | Photo credit: ANI

The Union Petroleum Ministry on Monday (Sep 07, 2026) reduced the interval between reservations of domestic liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) cylinders for rural consumers to 25 days, months after it was extended to 45 days during the height of the conflict in West Asia.

This makes the interval between bookings for rural consumers at par with that of urban consumers, for which the period remains unchanged at 25 days.

In a letter to oil marketing companies, the ministry cited a “significant reduction” in the number of backlogs amid the current supply situation as among the reasons that led to the release.

The impact of the crisis in West Asia

At the height of the conflict in West Asia, in March 2026 the government extended the reservation interval for domestic LPG cylinders from 21 days to 25 days for urban consumers and 45 days for rural consumers.

Before the conflict, India met 60% of its total LPG requirements through imports. Of these imports, 90% were routed through the Strait of Hormuz, which faced a blockade as a result of the conflict.

Indian oil marketing companies then began to increasingly import LPG from the United States, which now accounts for nearly two-thirds of India’s LPG import basket.

The government’s subsequent push on piped natural gas (PNG), among other things, led to India’s LPG consumption falling by 17.4% year-on-year in June and 16.2% in August year-on-year.

Distributors are moving

Speaking to The Hindu, the LPG Distributors Association welcomed the move.

Chandra Prakash, president of the All-India LPG Distributors Federation, said that certain distributors classified as rural are actually located in areas that later developed into full-fledged urban centers such as Noida in Uttar Pradesh and Navi Mumbai in Maharashtra. The diesel ministry’s move will benefit such distributors, he said.

Mr. Prakash assured that the distributors will be able to meet the demand arising from the revision in the booking interval. “With this move, there will not be a massive increase in demand. Indian oil marketing companies have diversified their purchases and we have also expanded our domestic production. We don’t foresee any shortage in the coming festival season either,” Mr Prakash said.

Pawan Soni, general secretary, LPG Distributors Federation of India, also said that the ministry’s move would benefit distributors who fall under the rural categorization.

“LPG is an essential commodity. Consumers would have to wait less if they had a distributor under the urban categorization (rather than the rural categorization). We have spoken to the ministry to address this and ensure parity,” he said, thanking the ministry leadership and oil marketing companies for “taking a practical decision in the greater interest of consumers”.

Published – 07 Sep 2026 16:03 IST