The Impact of Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana on Indian Households

This study critically evaluates the impact of the Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana (PMUY) on LPG accessibility among poor households in India. Using Propensity Score Matching and Difference-in-Differences estimators and the National Family Health Survey (NFHS) dataset, the AverageTreatment Effect on the intendedly Treated is a modest 2.1 percentage point increase in LPG consumption due to PMUY, with a parallel decrease in firewood consumption. Regional analysisreveals differential impacts, with significant progress in the North, West, and South but less pro-nounced effects in the East and North East. The study also underscores variance across socialgroups, with Scheduled Caste households showing the most substantial benefits, while ScheduledTribes households are hardly affected. Despite the PMUY’s initial success in facilitating LPG ac-cess, sustaining its usage remains challenging. Policy should emphasise targeted interventions andaddress regional and community-specific disparities for the sustained usage of LPG.