Archive · 24 May 2025
PMUY Found to be Cost-Effective, Delivering Well-being Gains in India
The Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana (PMUY) is a program in India that provides clean cooking fuel, like gas, to families.
A recent study showed that the program has made people's lives much better.
Before PMUY, many families used dirty fuels like wood, which made the air unhealthy, especially for women and children.
PMUY gave women gas connections, making them in charge.
The program helped with health by reducing air pollution, and with women's empowerment by freeing up their time.
It also generated jobs and helped the environment.
The program's benefits are estimated to be worth a lot more than what it cost to run, making it a very successful project for improving people's lives.
A study claims the PMUY is a cost-effective initiative with well-being benefits estimated at Rs 6.46 lakh crore.
Prior to PMUY, over 64% of India's population lacked access to clean cooking fuel, relying on polluting methods.
The PMUY focused on women-centric implementation, financial accessibility, and capacity building.
The analysis uses WELLBYs to assess PMUY's benefits, considering health, women's empowerment, employment, and environmental impact.
The program has generated 10.47 million WELLBYs annually, with an estimated return nearly 45 times the initial investment.
- Who
- Authored by Radhika Jha, IAS officer; the study was published by the Observer Research Foundation.
- What
- Analysis of the Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana (PMUY), assessing its cost-effectiveness and impact on citizen well-being.
- When
- The analysis was recently conducted.
- Where
- India
- Why
- To evaluate the impact of the PMUY program and provide insights for policymakers.
- Scheme Name
- Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana (PMUY)
- Initial Investment
- Rs 14,000 crore
- Estimated Well-being Gains
- Rs 6.46 lakh crore
- Beneficiaries Without Clean Cooking Fuel (Pre-PMUY)
- Over 64% of India's population
- WELLBYs Generated Annually
- 10.47 million
- WELLBY Cost
- Rs 13,000