Tamil Nadu to reimburse cost of 3 LPG cylinders per year for eligible families from Pongal 2027
Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay on Monday (August 24, 2026) announced that the state government will reimburse the cost of three domestic LPG cylinders per year for eligible homemakers. The scheme, named 'Annapoorani Super Six Scheme', will come into effect from Pongal Day in 2027.
According to the Chief Minister's suo motu statement in the state assembly, the initiative will benefit 1,30,16,104 families. The estimated annual cost to the exchequer is approximately ₹4,000 crore.
The reimbursement amount will be credited directly to the bank accounts of beneficiaries. The government will collect the list of beneficiaries from oil companies after the cylinders are delivered, following the registration process.
Eligibility criteria include families with an annual income not exceeding ₹2.5 lakh, middle and marginal farmers, and families of persons with disabilities.
The announcement fulfils a key electoral promise made by the Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) ahead of the 2026 Tamil Nadu Assembly polls. The party had promised six free cooking gas cylinders; the present scheme covers three cylinders as a first step.
Chief Minister Vijay cited a shortage of cylinders over the past four months due to the conflict in West Asia, which forced many families to rely on alternative and costlier fuels. He also noted that rising fuel prices had added to household financial burdens.
“Though the government is facing a financial crisis, it has decided to reimburse the money for gas cylinders, taking into consideration the burden on the people, their welfare and to fulfil the Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam’s poll promise,” he said.
Observers note that the move could provide significant relief to middle- and lower-income households, particularly in rural areas where LPG is a primary cooking fuel. However, some analysts have questioned the fiscal feasibility of the scheme given the state's current revenue position.
The scheme will be formally launched on Pongal Day in 2027, aligning with the Tamil harvest festival, a traditional occasion for government welfare announcements in the state.
