Puducherry government increases LPG subsidy by ₹50 per cylinder

Account subscription benefits alongside Premium Stories, Editorials, Opinions and more. Unlock these with Subscription

CM N. Rangasamy speaks in the Assembly on Saturday | Photo Credit: Special Arrangement

The Puducherry government has decided to increase the LPG subsidy granted to red and yellow ration card holders by ₹50 in the Union Territory, Chief Minister N. Rangasamy announced in the Assembly on Saturday (August 29, 2026).

Replying to the general discussion on the ₹14,300-crore Budget for 2026-27 presented in the Assembly, the Chief Minister said the government, at present, provides ₹300 and ₹150 per cylinder as LPG subsidy for red and yellow ration card holders, respectively, in the UT. The government would provide ₹50 more per cylinder for each category as LPG subsidy from this year, the Chief Minister said.

The government has decided to provide financial assistance to students belonging to fishing communities, similar to the schemes for the benefit of students belonging to Scheduled Caste communities in the UT. The administration has also decided to disburse all pending old-age pension applications this year itself, he added.

The Chief Minister said that while catering to the welfare needs of all sections of society, the government would have to address the infrastructure requirements of Puducherry. Of the total outlay of ₹14,300 crore, the Union Territory’s own revenue receipts have been estimated at ₹7,890.41 crore.

The Central Assistance, including assistance for the State Disaster Relief Fund, has been estimated at ₹3,517 crore and the allocation under Centrally Sponsored Schemes at ₹531.80 crore. The Central government has allowed the government to borrow around ₹2,148.69 crore to bridge the fiscal deficit, the Chief Minister said.

“We have to increase our own revenue to meet our future requirements, as the grant given by the Central government has gradually reduced over a period of time. Without imposing additional tax on people, the government is planning to raise its own revenue. One possible avenue for tax mobilisation is the excise sector and the government is exploring options to mobilise more revenue from the sector. The possibility is being examined by the government,” the Chief Minister said.

Mr. Rangasamy also expressed his government’s determination to fill existing vacancies in various departments and establish the multi-modal special economic zone at Sedarapet and the IT SEZ at Mettupalayam to provide employment opportunities to the youth. Steps are also being taken to revive some of the public sector undertakings, including the defunct sugar mill, by involving the private sector, he added.

At the beginning of the session, the Chief Minister made a statement in the House about the government’s efforts to trace the three tourists from Puducherry who were caught in the flash floods in Nepal. He made the statement after Pro-tem Speaker A. Anbalagan drew the attention of the Assembly to the plight of the three tourists who had gone to Nepal.