From Gas Connections to Daily Use: Rethinking India’s Clean Cooking Push Under Ujjwala

A new Asian Development Bank study finds that India’s Ujjwala scheme has successfully expanded access to clean cooking fuel but has struggled to ensure regular use, especially during economic shocks like COVID-19. It argues that redesigning subsidies, payment systems, and delivery models could turn LPG access into a lasting pillar of social protection, public health, and climate resilience.

When India launched the Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana (PMUY) in 2016, it was seen as a bold push to replace smoky kitchens with clean cooking fuel. A new study by the Asian Development Bank, led by economists Kanupriya Gupta and Charmi Mehta with evaluation expert Priyanka Roy, and supported by Evidence Action and Kantar Public, argues that the scheme’s importance goes much further. Based on a large household survey across eight Indian states, the research shows that clean cooking fuel, when linked to social protection, can help households cope better with economic shocks, health risks, and climate stress, provided people actually use it regularly.

Why Energy Matters for Resilience

The paper begins with a simple but powerful idea: climate change and disasters hit household finances hard. When floods, heatwaves, or pandemics strike, families often spend more on food, repairs, and healthcare, while cutting back on savings. Over time, this weakens their ability to recover. Social protection schemes can act as a buffer. India’s COVID-19 relief programs showed how existing welfare systems could be scaled up quickly to support vulnerable people. The authors argue that energy access, especially clean cooking, should be seen as part of this safety net rather than just an infrastructure goal.

The Hidden Costs of Traditional Fuels

Traditional cooking fuels such as firewood and dung are still widely used in India, especially in rural areas. These fuels create heavy indoor air pollution, which is a major cause of respiratory disease and premature deaths. Women suffer the most, as they spend more time cooking and collecting fuel. There are also climate costs: household biomass burning releases black carbon, a powerful contributor to global warming. Clean fuels like LPG reduce smoke, cut emissions, and save time. That saved time can be used for paid work, education, or rest, improving overall quality of life.

Access Is Not the Same as Use

PMUY has been very successful in expanding access to LPG. By 2022, coverage had reached more than the entire eligible population. During the COVID-19 pandemic, the scheme was even used to deliver free LPG refills as emergency support. But the study finds a major gap between access and actual use. Surveying 8,473 households, researchers found that fewer than 20% use LPG as their main cooking fuel, even among PMUY beneficiaries. Many families returned to firewood during the pandemic as incomes fell, LPG prices rose, and subsidies became uncertain. In areas without doorstep delivery, the effort and cost of refilling cylinders also discouraged regular use.

Is LPG Really Too Expensive?

One of the study’s most important findings is that LPG is often cheaper than people think. When researchers included not just the price of fuel but also the time and money spent collecting firewood, they found that traditional fuels can cost as much, or more, than LPG. The problem is how payments are made. Firewood is bought or collected in small amounts, while LPG requires a large one-time payment for each refill. For cash-strapped households, that upfront cost feels unaffordable, even if LPG costs less over a month. Men often control refill decisions and payments, adding another layer of complexity to household fuel choices.

What Needs to Change

The study concludes that PMUY’s future success depends on shifting focus from connections to consistent use. It calls for smaller or flexible payments for LPG, such as installment or pay-as-you-go options, and faster expansion of piped gas systems that allow low monthly bills instead of large refill costs. In remote areas, smaller cylinders and better delivery models could help. Clear communication about health and cost benefits is also critical, especially for male decision-makers. PMUY, the authors argue, has already transformed access to clean cooking. With the right changes, it could also become a powerful tool for social protection and climate resilience in India.