LPG eKYC deadline nears: Consumers rush to complete Aadhaar verification
With the August 23 deadline for completing e-KYC (Aadhaar biometric authentication) for domestic LPG connections approaching, cooking gas agencies across Hyderabad and other parts of Telangana are witnessing an unusual surge in customer footfalls. The rush follows messages from oil marketing companies (OMCs) — Indian Oil Corporation, HPCL and BPCL — urging domestic LPG users to complete the process immediately to avoid any disruption in the supply of cylinders at domestic rates.
The messages, sent to consumers whose e-KYC is still pending, state that the last date has been extended to August 23 from the earlier August 16. “Your e-KYC is pending despite reminders... last date has been extended till 23.08.2026, after which you may not be eligible to receive LPG cylinders at domestic rates until your e-KYC is completed,” reads one such alert issued by an OMC.
The last-minute scramble has led to long queues and extended waiting times at many LPG distributorships, occasionally causing frayed tempers. Technical glitches, particularly with servers that are slow or failing to process requests, have compounded the difficulties for both consumers and agency staff.
The e-KYC exercise is part of a broader effort by OMCs to authenticate consumers using Aadhaar, with the stated aim of eliminating ghost connections and ensuring that subsidised refills reach the intended beneficiaries. While the subsidy on domestic LPG refills has been substantially reduced over the years, certain categories of consumers — such as beneficiaries of the PM Ujjwala Yojana and the Telangana government’s Mahalakshmi scheme — still receive financial support. For other households, the authentication requirement has raised concerns about potential consequences for non-compliance.
Some consumers have interpreted the messages as a warning that those who fail to complete e-KYC will be supplied cylinders at commercial rates. However, senior officials in the oil companies, speaking on condition of anonymity, dismissed such fears as unfounded. They clarified that no official communication has been issued regarding pricing for consumers who do not complete e-KYC.
According to an official, a significant portion of customers have already completed the authentication process, and many of the remaining ones are now visiting distributorships to finish it. The official also indicated that the deadline could be extended again if necessary. However, it is unlikely that all connections will eventually be authenticated, as some may have become inactive following the death of the registered user, while others may have shifted to piped natural gas (PNG) connections or chosen not to participate in the process.
Jagan Mohan Reddy, president of the Telangana LPG Distributors Association, said the demand has been overwhelming. “Some of the city distributors are handling 200-300 customers daily for the last few days,” he noted, adding that under normal circumstances, only a handful of customers visit agencies, typically for transferring connections in or out or seeking a second cylinder.
Consumers are advised to carry their Aadhaar card and other relevant documents when visiting distributorships, and to check for any updates from their respective OMCs regarding the deadline and procedure.
