The Centre has reduced the number of subsidised cooking gas cylinders available each year to beneficiaries of the Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana (PMUY), bringing the entitlement down to four cylinders annually from the previous limit of nine. The decision was announced by a senior government official, who said the revised quota reflects the average LPG consumption pattern among beneficiaries.

PMUY, launched in 2016, provides LPG connections to women from economically weaker households to encourage the use of cleaner cooking fuel. At the time of its launch, beneficiaries were eligible for up to 12 subsidised 14.2-kg LPG cylinders every year. The quota was reduced to nine cylinders last year and has now been lowered further to four.

Government cites consumption patterns

Speaking at a media briefing, Petroleum Ministry Additional Secretary Praveen Mal Khanooja said the revised entitlement broadly corresponds to the average annual LPG usage recorded among Ujjwala households.

The government continues to provide a subsidy of Rs 300 per 14.2-kg cylinder to eligible PMUY consumers. The subsidy amount is transferred directly to beneficiaries’ bank accounts after the purchase of a refill. The assistance was first introduced at Rs 200 per cylinder in May 2022 and was increased to Rs 300 in October 2023.

LPG prices rise

The policy change comes shortly after a rise in domestic LPG prices. A 14.2-kg household LPG cylinder became costlier by Rs 29 earlier this month, taking the retail price in Delhi to Rs 942. For PMUY beneficiaries, the effective cost after the Rs 300 subsidy is Rs 642 per cylinder.

Government officials have also pointed to increasing financial pressure on oil marketing companies, which are reportedly facing substantial losses on domestic LPG sales despite the recent price increase.

Impact on beneficiaries

With the latest revision, PMUY beneficiaries will receive subsidy support on only the first four LPG refills purchased during a year. The government maintains that the revised limit is sufficient to meet the average consumption needs of beneficiary households, though the decision is expected to affect millions of families enrolled under the scheme.

Former MP and Telangana Rakshana Sena chief K Kavitha has accused the Telangana government of adopting a selective approach in dealing with land-related issues and demanded action regarding a parcel of land allegedly owned by Pawan Kalyan.

Addressing reporters in Hyderabad, Kavitha questioned the administration led by A Revanth Reddy and alleged that authorities were not acting uniformly in cases involving land that falls within protected water body limits.

Kavitha alleges land falls within protected limits

Kavitha claimed that around 10 acres of land associated with Pawan Kalyan is located in the Kodikunta lake area and falls under Shikam land and Full Tank Level (FTL) limits. According to her, official revenue records identify the land as protected lake property, and therefore authorities should examine the matter and take appropriate action.

She argued that if action is taken against certain properties for alleged violations involving lakes and water bodies, similar standards should be applied in all cases without exception.

Criticism of the Telangana government

During the interaction, Kavitha also criticised the Telangana government and alleged that large-scale irregularities had taken place in matters related to public land. She accused the administration of failing to address several issues while selectively targeting others.

The remarks come amid an ongoing political confrontation involving opposition leaders and the Congress-led government in Telangana, with land-related controversies becoming a key point of political debate.

No immediate response reported

There was no immediate public response reported from Pawan Kalyan or the Telangana government regarding Kavitha’s latest allegations at the time of reporting. The claims made by Kavitha have also not been independently verified by authorities.

A US federal judge has struck down President Donald Trump’s controversial $100,000 fee on new H-1B visas, ruling that the measure amounted to an unlawful tax that had not been authorised by Congress.

The decision was delivered by US District Judge Leo Sorokin in Boston in a case brought by 20 Democratic state attorneys general who challenged the fee announced by the Trump administration in September. The lawsuit argued that the sharp increase in visa costs would make it harder for employers to recruit highly skilled foreign professionals.

Court says fee exceeded presidential authority

In his ruling, Judge Sorokin rejected the administration’s argument that the fee was a lawful penalty under immigration law. Instead, he concluded that the charge functioned as a tax, which can only be imposed with congressional approval.

The court found that the president did not have the authority to introduce such a levy through executive action. The ruling invalidates the fee and prevents its enforcement.

H-1B programme widely used by employers

The H-1B visa programme is a key pathway used by US employers to hire foreign professionals in specialised fields. The programme issues 65,000 visas annually, along with an additional 20,000 visas for individuals holding advanced degrees. Approved visas are generally valid for three to six years.

Before the fee increase, employers typically paid between $2,000 and $5,000 in visa-related charges, depending on various factors. Trump’s policy raised the cost dramatically, drawing criticism from technology companies and other employers that rely on skilled international talent.

Fee saw limited uptake

Court filings showed that the higher fee significantly reduced demand for new H-1B applications. According to government submissions, US Citizenship and Immigration Services had received only 85 payments of the $100,000 fee by mid-February.

The Trump administration is expected to appeal the ruling, keeping the legal battle over the policy ongoing.