There have been reports for some time that if customers do not complete their e-KYC, their gas connections will be disconnected. The Central Government has now issued a clarification on these reports. The Petroleum Ministry has said that e-KYC is necessary only for those customers whose verification process is still incomplete. The government has clarified that this is not a new rule; Rather, the ministry revealed via social media platforms that the initiative is actually an extension of an already ongoing campaign. Its sole objective is to encourage more and more gas customers to complete their biometric verification, so that fraudulent activities in the system can be prevented.
Who has to complete e-KYC, and who doesn’t?
If you are a regular LPG customer and have already completed your e-KYC, then you do not need to repeat this process again. This rule only applies to customers whose records have not yet been updated. However, the rules are slightly different for ‘Ujjwala Yojana’ beneficiaries. These customers are required to undergo biometric verification at least once every financial year. Additionally, this verification requirement is specifically applicable to those Ujjwala beneficiaries who wish to avail the Targeted Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) subsidy on their 8th and 9th cylinder refill after using 7 cylinders within a year.
How to complete e-KYC from the comfort of home?
Customers do not need to visit their gas agencies to complete the e-KYC process for their gas connection. The ministry says that the e-KYC process can be completed comfortably and free of cost from the comfort of home. Customers can complete this process themselves using the mobile applications provided by their respective gas service providers. To complete e-KYC, all you need is your ‘Aadhaar Card’ and your ‘Registered Mobile Number’.
