From today, October 1, buying a subsidised LPG cylinder requires biometric Aadhaar authentication. Customers who have not completed their biometric KYC will have to pay the full market price, with no subsidy credited to their accounts.

The rule is part of a nationwide drive to weed out duplicate and ghost connections. Oil companies say lakhs of ineligible connections have been drawing subsidies meant for genuine households, and the biometric check will link every cylinder refill to a verified individual.

To avoid disruption, customers should visit their distributor or use the oil company’s app to complete Aadhaar-based e-KYC with fingerprint or iris verification. Those who miss the deadline can still get a refill, but at the non-subsidised rate — a difference of several hundred rupees per cylinder.

Consumer activists have urged the government to ensure enrolment centres in rural areas are equipped for the rush, warning that elderly and migrant customers could face problems. The oil ministry says distributors have been instructed to help customers complete the process without delay.