UPSC Prelims Practice Questions — LPG booking interval for rural users cut to 25 days

Q1. Under the Unified Guidelines for LPG Distributorships, the term 'Durgam Kshetriya Vitrak' denotes which one of the following?

  • A. A category of LPG distributorship in remote areas whose consumers are supplied cylinders at a concessional, transport-free retail price.
  • B. A category of LPG distributorship in remote areas that may be operated only by cooperative societies and panchayat bodies nominated by the State Government.
  • C. A category of LPG distributorship in remote areas which, unlike the other categories, is not required to provide home delivery of cylinders.
  • D. A category of LPG distributorship in remote areas authorised to sell only 5-kg Free Trade LPG cylinders through retail outlets.

Q2. Consider the following statements regarding the LPG refill booking interval norms notified as part of the 2026 demand-side rationalisation measures: 1. The minimum refill booking interval in urban areas was raised from 21 days to 25 days. 2. For rural and durgam kshetra areas, the minimum refill booking interval was raised to up to 45 days. 3. The notified timelines differ by connection type, prescribing a 35-day gap for non-PMUY double-bottle connections. 4. The interval revision was a demand-side rationalisation measure introduced alongside supply-side measures. Which of the statements given above is/are NOT correct?

  1. The minimum refill booking interval in urban areas was raised from 21 days to 25 days.
  2. For rural and durgam kshetra areas, the minimum refill booking interval was raised to up to 45 days.
  3. The notified timelines differ by connection type, prescribing a 35-day gap for non-PMUY double-bottle connections.
  4. The interval revision was a demand-side rationalisation measure introduced alongside supply-side measures.
  • A. 1 and 2
  • B. 3 only
  • C. 2 and 4
  • D. 1, 3 and 4

Q3. In the Union Petroleum Ministry's September 2026 order restoring the 25-day norm for rural consumers, the expression 'refill booking interval' refers to which one of the following?

  • A. The maximum number of days within which the distributor must deliver a booked refill to the consumer's premises.
  • B. The minimum number of days that must elapse after a consumer's last refill booking before the next refill can be booked.
  • C. The number of days for which a booked refill remains valid before the booking automatically lapses.
  • D. The minimum number of days a distributor must retain cylinder stock in reserve before releasing it to consumers.

Q4. The Union Petroleum Ministry cited which one of the following as the principal ground for cutting the rural LPG refill booking interval from 45 days to 25 days in September 2026?

  • A. A considerable reduction in refill backlogs amid an improved current LPG supply position.
  • B. The reopening of the Strait of Hormuz restoring import flows to their pre-conflict monthly levels.
  • C. The commissioning of additional import terminals raising the country's LPG bottling capacity.
  • D. The Cabinet's sanction of the targeted PMUY subsidy of ₹12,000 crore for the financial year.

Q5. Consider the following measures said to have been taken by the Government of India in response to the energy supply disruption arising from the West Asia conflict: 1. Directing refineries and petrochemical complexes to divert propane, butane, propylene and butene streams to the LPG pool. 2. Capping supply to bulk commercial and industrial LPG consumers at 20 per cent of their previous average monthly allocations. 3. Issuing a Natural Gas Control Order under the Essential Commodities Act. 4. Restricting piped natural gas for households and CNG for vehicles to 65 per cent of their previous six-month average supply. Which of the above is/are NOT correct?

  1. Directing refineries and petrochemical complexes to divert propane, butane, propylene and butene streams to the LPG pool.
  2. Capping supply to bulk commercial and industrial LPG consumers at 20 per cent of their previous average monthly allocations.
  3. Issuing a Natural Gas Control Order under the Essential Commodities Act.
  4. Restricting piped natural gas for households and CNG for vehicles to 65 per cent of their previous six-month average supply.
  • A. 1 and 3
  • B. 2 only
  • C. 4 only
  • D. 2 and 4

Q6. During the 2026 West Asia energy disruption, operational coordination of LPG allocation and distribution across the public sector oil companies was entrusted to which one of the following?

  • A. The Petroleum and Natural Gas Regulatory Board, the statutory downstream sector regulator.
  • B. The Directorate General of Hydrocarbons under the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas.
  • C. The Petroleum Planning and Analysis Cell together with the Oil Industry Safety Directorate.
  • D. A three-member committee of Executive Directors drawn from IOCL, HPCL and BPCL.

Q7. The continuation of the targeted LPG subsidy for Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana consumers for the year 2025-26 was sanctioned by which authority, and at what outlay?

  • A. The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs, at an outlay of ₹9,100 crore.
  • B. The Union Cabinet, at an outlay of ₹12,000 crore.
  • C. The Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas, at an outlay of ₹12,000 crore.
  • D. The Cabinet Committee on Political Affairs, at an outlay of ₹6,100 crore.

Q8. Consider the following statements about India's public sector oil marketing companies: 1. Indian Oil Corporation Limited is a Maharatna CPSE under the administrative control of the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas and markets LPG under the brand Indane. 2. Bharat Petroleum Corporation Limited holds Maharatna status and markets LPG under the brand Bharatgas. 3. Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Limited holds Maharatna status and markets LPG under the brand HP Gas. 4. All three of these companies figured among the nine CPSEs first identified as Navratnas in 1997. Which of the statements given above is/are NOT correct?

  1. Indian Oil Corporation Limited is a Maharatna CPSE under the administrative control of the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas and markets LPG under the brand Indane.
  2. Bharat Petroleum Corporation Limited holds Maharatna status and markets LPG under the brand Bharatgas.
  3. Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Limited holds Maharatna status and markets LPG under the brand HP Gas.
  4. All three of these companies figured among the nine CPSEs first identified as Navratnas in 1997.
  • A. 1 and 2
  • B. 2 and 4
  • C. 3 only
  • D. 1 and 3

Q9. During the 2026 West Asia energy disruption, the Cabinet Minister heading the Union Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas was:

  • A. Dharmendra Pradhan, in whose tenure the Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana was first rolled out.
  • B. Hardeep Singh Puri, who placed the statement on West Asia energy measures before Parliament.
  • C. Rameswar Teli, who has served in this Ministry as a Minister of State.
  • D. Suresh Gopi, who confirmed the cut in the rural refill booking interval to 25 days.

Q10. Consider the following statements about the PAHAL (DBTL) scheme for LPG: 1. It was first launched in 54 districts on 15 November 2014 and extended to the remaining districts of the country on 1 January 2015. 2. Unlike the earlier arrangement of subsidised cylinder pricing at the point of sale, under PAHAL the consumer buys the cylinder at market price and the subsidy is credited to the consumer's bank account. 3. It was recognised by the Guinness World Records as the largest cash transfer programme (households), covering 3.34 crore households as on 30 June 2015. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

  1. It was first launched in 54 districts on 15 November 2014 and extended to the remaining districts of the country on 1 January 2015.
  2. Unlike the earlier arrangement of subsidised cylinder pricing at the point of sale, under PAHAL the consumer buys the cylinder at market price and the subsidy is credited to the consumer's bank account.
  3. It was recognised by the Guinness World Records as the largest cash transfer programme (households), covering 3.34 crore households as on 30 June 2015.
  • A. 1 only
  • B. 1 and 2 only
  • C. 2 and 3 only
  • D. 1, 2 and 3

Q11. According to the 2026 CEEW study on household cooking-fuel use, which one of the following was reported as the primary cooking fuel by the largest share of the rural households surveyed?

  • A. Liquefied petroleum gas
  • B. Dung cakes
  • C. Firewood
  • D. Crop residue and agricultural waste