Kamal Ghorui
Getting LPG cylinders is set to become easier for migrant workers, students and daily wage earners! The government, on Sunday, allowed 5-kg Free Trade LPG cylinders to be sold without address proof, making it simpler for migrant workers, students and daily-wage earners to access cooking fuel. All that is needed now is a valid ID card, as the government steps up to make energy accessible. Chandra Prakash, President of the All India LPG Distributors Federation, called the decision “a good gesture” for vulnerable sections.“FTL connections can be given to needy and migrant workers who are not able to avail a domestic new connection,” he said, adding that “migrant maids, daily-wage labourers, students, and professionals who lack a permanent address can now access cooking fuel without bureaucratic hurdles.”He explained that eligible individuals can approach LPG distributors with a valid ID and a self-declaration letter stating their place of residence and that the cylinder will be used only for cooking purposes. The provision also extends to migrant students and professionals without an existing LPG connection.Prakash further highlighted that the cylinders are strictly intended for domestic use. “These FTL cylinders are not meant for commercial customers,” he said.Meanwhile the government said it is working to ensure smooth availability of petrol, diesel and LPG across the country, while urging citizens to use digital booking methods and avoid unnecessary visits to LPG distributors. Earlier on Sunday, ministry of petroleum and natural Gas stated that Delivery Authentication Code (DAC)-based LPG deliveries have risen from 53% in February 2026 to 90% recently to curb diversion at the distributor level. It further reported strong demand for 5-kg FTL cylinders, with over 90,000 sold in a single day and around 6.6 lakh distributed nationwide since March 23, 2026.It has also advised citizens against panic buying or unnecessary LPG bookings, urging reliance on official information sources. The ministry of ports, shipping and waterways stated that all Indian seafarers are safe and no incidents involving Indian-flagged vessels have been reported in the last 24 hours. It also confirmed that port operations across the country remain stable.It added that the director general of shipping has facilitated the safe repatriation of over 1,479 Indian seafarers, including 159 in the past 24 hours from airports and regional centres across the Gulf region.
