Latest news with #PAHAL
The Hindu
05-08-2025
- Business
- The Hindu
4.08 crore LPG connections blocked to curb misuse of subsidy
The Direct Benefit Transfer of LPG (DBTL) of the Centre, under which domestic cooking gas subsidy is paid into the bank account of consumers has helped block, suspend or deactivate 4.08 crore duplicate, fake/non-existent or inactive liquefied petroleum gas connections. The DBTL or PAHAL scheme has played a crucial role in identifying and blocking 'ghost' accounts, multiple accounts, and inactive LPG connections, thus curbing diversion of subsidised LPG for commercial use, Petroleum Minister Hardeep S. Puri said in a written reply to a question in the Rajya Sabha. Sharing details as on July 1, 2025, the Minister said the scheme, whose implementation began in January 2015, has contributed to transparent and effective disbursal of subsidies across the country. Besides the scheme, other initiatives like Aadhaar-based verification, biometric authentication and the weeding out of ineligible or duplicate connections resulted in significantly strengthening the system of transfer of targeted subsidies. All domestic LPG cylinders are sold at non-subsidised prices and the subsidy transferred directly to the respective bank accounts under the DBTL scheme, he said. Common database The government has also introduced a Common LPG Database Platform (CLDP) through which duplicate connections are identified and removed from the database. Deduplication is carried out using Aadhaar number, bank account details, AHL TIN number, ration card details, name, and address as key parameters. Aadhaar-based authentication for DBT schemes enables accurate, real-time and cost-effective identification, authentication and de-duplication of beneficiaries, ensuring targeted delivery of benefits. Public sector oil marketing companies have been advised to undertake and complete biometric Aadhaar authentication of PMUY and PAHAL beneficiaries. As of July 1, biometric Aadhaar authentication has been completed for 67% of Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana (PMUY) beneficiaries. All new PMUY consumers have to undergo biometric authentication before release of connections, a release from the Ministry on Mr .Puri's reply said. Out of a total 33.05 crore active LPG consumers, 92.44% have their Aadhaar seeded in the OMCs' database. 86.78% of the total 30.63 crore DBTL consumers are Aadhaar-transfer compliant. While most subsidy transactions are completed successfully within two days of refill delivery, certain issues have led to transaction failures, including deseeding of Aadhaar from bank accounts, bank mergers, inactive Aadhaar numbers and account closures or transfers. Focused efforts are being made to ensure all consumers become Aadhaar transfer compliant, the Minister added.
Time of India
05-08-2025
- Business
- Time of India
Govt blocks 4.08 crore duplicate or inactive LPG connections; Aadhaar-seeding at 92.44 pc: Puri
New Delhi: The government has blocked, suspended or deactivated 4.08 crore duplicate, fake, non-existent and inactive LPG connections as of July 1, 2025 under the PAHAL (DBTL) scheme, Minister of Petroleum and Natural Gas Hardeep Singh Puri informed the Rajya Sabha on Tuesday. In a written reply to a Starred Question, Puri said the government continues to take measures on an ongoing basis to ensure that LPG distribution and subsidy transfers for domestic LPG consumers remain efficient, transparent and inclusive. He said that through the Direct Benefit Transfer of LPG (DBTL) – PAHAL scheme , all domestic LPG cylinders are sold at non-subsidised prices while the applicable subsidy is transferred directly to consumers' bank accounts. The scheme, implemented nationwide since January 2015, has also helped in identifying and blocking ghost accounts, multiple accounts and inactive connections, curbing diversion for commercial use. Further, the government has introduced a Common LPG Database Platform (CLDP) through which duplicate connections are removed using Aadhaar number, bank account details, ration card number, name and address as key parameters. Puri said Aadhaar-based biometric authentication has been completed for 67 per cent of existing PMUY beneficiaries, and all new PMUY consumers undergo biometric authentication before release of connections. He said 8.49 lakh PMUY connections have been terminated as part of comprehensive de-duplication, and under a Standard Operating Procedure issued in January 2025, around 12,000 inactive PMUY connections were terminated due to non-refill after initial installation. The Minister also said 92.44 per cent of active LPG consumers out of a total 33.05 crore have their Aadhaar seeded with Oil Marketing Companies' (OMCs) database, and 86.78 per cent of the total 30.63 crore DBTL consumers are Aadhaar Transfer Compliant. To reduce transaction failures in subsidy transfers, focused efforts have been made to enhance Aadhaar compliance, he said. Causes of failure include deseeding of Aadhaar from bank accounts, bank mergers, inactive Aadhaar numbers, and account closures or transfers. In terms of delivery tracking, the IVRS/SMS refill booking system has been implemented across all LPG distributorships. Consumers receive SMS alerts during refill booking, cash memo generation and delivery. A Delivery Authentication Code (DAC) is also sent via SMS and is required to be shared with delivery personnel. Puri said Oil Marketing Companies conduct both regular and surprise inspections of LPG distributors, godowns, showrooms and delivery points. Inspections are carried out by officials from regional, zonal, divisional and territorial offices as well as anti-adulteration and vigilance departments. He said that during the year 2024-25, around 194 crore LPG refills were delivered to consumers, with complaints registered for only 0.08 per cent of them — mainly related to subsidy transfer or delivery delays. On the regulatory front, the Minister informed that the LPG distribution is governed under the 'Liquefied Petroleum Gas (Regulation of Supply and Distribution) Order, 2000' and OMCs have also put in place 'Marketing Discipline Guidelines', under which penal action is taken for malpractice. Puri said a third-party evaluation conducted by the Research and Development Initiative (RDI) found over 90 per cent of respondents satisfied with the subsidy reimbursement mechanism. The report recommended strengthening grievance redressal systems and improving targeting of subsidies to economically weaker sections. The grievance redressal system has been gradually expanded, he said, and consumers can now raise complaints through multiple channels including toll-free helplines (1800 2333 555 and 1906), OMC websites and apps, CPGRAMS, chatbots, WhatsApp and social media platforms.
News18
05-08-2025
- Business
- News18
Rs 4,31,138 Crore: How Govt Achieved The Big Savings Figure From Direct Benefit Transfer
Last Updated: DBT has been showcased by the government as a zero-leakage mechanism in which every penny directly reaches the bank account of a beneficiary without any cut or middlemen Rs. 4,31,138.05 crore—that is the latest estimate of the cumulative savings that the Narendra Modi government has made due to the nation-wide roll out of Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT). Parliament was informed of the same on Monday. 'The implementation of DBT and other governance reforms has led to the removal of duplicate and fake beneficiaries, and the plugging of leakages. As a result, the government has been able to better target genuine and deserving beneficiaries. These measures have resulted in estimated savings/benefits amounting to Rs. 4,31,138.05 crore (up to FY 2023-24)," the government said in a Parliament reply. It also said that a record amount of Rs 36,65,57 crore had been sent to beneficiaries under various schemes through DBT in 2024-25. This has been showcased by the government as a zero-leakage mechanism in which every penny directly reaches the bank account of a beneficiary without any cut or middlemen. How were these savings achieved? The government's official figures on the Rs 4,31,138 crore savings include the highest amount of Rs 2,49.972 from savings under the Public Distribution System of the Department of Food and Public Distribution. That comprises of more than 50 per cent of the total savings as government has deleted 5.87 crore duplicate and fake/non-existent ration cards. The next highest savings are under the PAHAL scheme of Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas—which are pegged at Rs 2,49,972.53. This is due to elimination of 4.23 crore duplicate, fake/non-existent, inactive LPG connections. In addition, number of non-subsidised LPG consumers is 2.38 crore. 'The aforesaid numbers (4.23 crore + 2.38 crore) include 1.15 crore 'Give-it-Up' consumers," the latest government data says. Deletion of 1.26 crore fake and duplicate Job Cards under the MGNREGS of Ministry of Rural Development also resulted in savings of Rs 58,058.98 till March 2024. Similarly, deletion of 2.1 crore ineligible beneficiaries under the PM Kisan Scheme have brought about savings to the tune of Rs 22,106 crore, says the government. view comments First Published: Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
Time of India
12-06-2025
- Business
- Time of India
Ghaziabad: GDA makes a digital ‘PAHAL' with first e-allotment letter for ₹1.3 crore plot
GHAZIABAD : In a shift toward paperless, contact-free transactions, Ghaziabad Development Authority (GDA) issued its first fully online allotment letter this week, marking the official rollout of PAHAL (Public Access for Housing and Allotment Login), a platform designed to bring property-related services under one digital umbrella. The move places GDA among the first urban authorities in UP to adopt a comprehensive online property allotment system. "At every stage, we have worked to reduce human intervention," GDA vice chairperson Atul Vats said. "PAHAL is one of the most transformative tools we've implemented so far. On Tuesday, the first allottee was able to complete the entire process online without having to visit our office even once." The allottee, who booked a 165 sqm commercial plot in the Indraprastha Housing Scheme for Rs 1.3 crore, received the official allotment letter via email — a process that would earlier have taken months of in-person visits and manual paperwork. The PAHAL portal allows users to pay property dues, verify and view property details, download allotment letters, apply for mutation, and complete allotment registration online. It is also equipped to provide automated updates and reminders for due payments, helping property owners avoid fines and delays. Before the digital shift, accessing property records meant navigating stacks of physical files, outdated maps and layers of bureaucracy. The process of compiling and verifying data for a single locality could stretch to seven months. PAHAL now offers instant access to this information, greatly reducing turnaround time and improving transparency. Internally, GDA has also moved toward a paperless workflow through the e-office system. Earlier, a file concerning engineering or civic planning would pass physically from a junior engineer to an assistant engineer, onward to a nodal officer, and finally to the chief engineer. Now, all such processes are handled digitally, streamlining interdepartmental coordination and eliminating bureaucratic delays. In another consumer-centric reform, GDA has introduced a slot-booking system for property registration, mirroring models used in passport and driving licence services. Applicants can choose their preferred date and time through the GDA portal. A checklist guides them through the necessary documents, and once scheduled, registry officials will be ready to process the transaction at the appointed time, eliminating long waits and reducing congestion at the office. "With PAHAL, we are offering a modern, transparent, and citizen-friendly experience," Vats said. "It's not just about convenience; it's about accountability and efficiency."
Time of India
11-06-2025
- Business
- Time of India
GDA makes a digital ‘PAHAL' with first e-allotment letter for 1.3cr plot
Ghaziabad: In a shift toward paperless, contact-free transactions, Ghaziabad Development Authority (GDA) issued its first fully online allotment letter this week, marking the official rollout of PAHAL (Public Access for Housing and Allotment Login), a platform designed to bring property-related services under one digital umbrella. The move places GDA among the first urban authorities in UP to adopt a comprehensive online property allotment system. "At every stage, we have worked to reduce human intervention," GDA vice chairperson Atul Vats said. "PAHAL is one of the most transformative tools we've implemented so far. On Tuesday, the first allottee was able to complete the entire process online without having to visit our office even once." The allottee, who booked a 165 sqm commercial plot in the Indraprastha Housing Scheme for Rs 1.3 crore, received the official allotment letter via email — a process that would earlier have taken months of in-person visits and manual paperwork. The PAHAL portal allows users to pay property dues, verify and view property details, download allotment letters, apply for mutation, and complete allotment registration online. It is also equipped to provide automated updates and reminders for due payments, helping property owners avoid fines and delays. Before the digital shift, accessing property records meant navigating stacks of physical files, outdated maps and layers of bureaucracy. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Giao dịch vàng CFDs với mức chênh lệch giá thấp nhất IC Markets Đăng ký Undo The process of compiling and verifying data for a single locality could stretch to seven months. PAHAL now offers instant access to this information, greatly reducing turnaround time and improving transparency. Internally, GDA has also moved toward a paperless workflow through the e-office system. Earlier, a file concerning engineering or civic planning would pass physically from a junior engineer to an assistant engineer, onward to a nodal officer, and finally to the chief engineer. Now, all such processes are handled digitally, streamlining interdepartmental coordination and eliminating bureaucratic delays. In another consumer-centric reform, GDA has introduced a slot-booking system for property registration, mirroring models used in passport and driving licence services. Applicants can choose their preferred date and time through the GDA portal. A checklist guides them through the necessary documents, and once scheduled, registry officials will be ready to process the transaction at the appointed time, eliminating long waits and reducing congestion at the office. "With PAHAL, we are offering a modern, transparent, and citizen-friendly experience," Vats said. "It's not just about convenience; it's about accountability and efficiency."
