This paper examines India’s Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana, a package of support for poor and vulnerable people that included access to liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) as a clean cooking fuel.
The paper draws on a survey of 8,473 households across eight states. It notes that LPG can be more cost-effective than firewood, and that households that used LPG as a primary fuel experienced better indoor air quality and fewer cooking-related injuries. The paper discusses ways of encouraging consistent LPG usage, such as by changing the subsidy structures, enabling installment-based payment, providing wider access to piped gas, and promoting the economic and health benefits associated with clean cooking fuels.