RoydadNaft –  India’s operational natural gas pipeline network has grown to 25,429 kilometers, advancing the country’s goal of a fully integrated national gas grid that promotes energy security and delivers cleaner fuel to every region.

According to a year-end press release from the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas, an additional 10,459 km of pipelines are currently under development. To ensure equitable gas pricing nationwide, the Petroleum and Natural Gas Regulatory Board has implemented the “One Nation, One Grid, One Tariff” system, which standardizes transportation charges across 90% of the network—preventing higher costs for consumers in remote areas.

Providing universal access to clean cooking fuel continues to be a top priority. Under the Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana (PMUY), the number of beneficiaries has reached approximately 10.35 crore as of December 1, 2025.

To address pending applications and achieve full LPG coverage, the government has approved an additional 2.5 million LPG connections for fiscal year 2025-26. The application process has been streamlined with a single Deprivation Declaration, replacing the previous multi-point self-declaration requirement to make it quicker and more inclusive.

LPG affordability for PMUY beneficiaries is bolstered by a targeted subsidy of ₹300 per 14.2 kg cylinder, covering up to nine refills annually. This support has driven a consistent increase in consumption: average per-connection refills rose from about three in 2019-20 to 4.47 in FY 2024-25, reaching a pro-rated 4.85 refills per year in FY 2025-26—a clear sign of growing reliance on clean cooking fuel.

The ministry has also prioritized modernizing petroleum retail infrastructure. More than 90,000 outlets now offer digital payment options, backed by over 271,000 POS terminals.

Door-to-door kerosene and fuel delivery has expanded with the addition of more than 3,200 specialized tankers (bowsers), enhancing access in remote locations. In line with the Swachh Bharat Mission, nearly all retail outlets now provide toilet facilities, many with separate amenities for men and women.

For consumer safety, the ministry carried out over 121.2 million free safety inspections.

In the biofuels sector, ethanol blending in petrol hit 19.24%. Additionally, 172 blocks were awarded for oil and gas exploration to boost domestic production.