Providing Clean Cooking Fuel in India: Challenges and solutions

The report analyzes the transition from biomass and kerosene to LPG in Ghaziabad, India. It finds that while there is high willingness to use clean fuel, poor households are deterred by high startup costs and documentation requirements, often resorting to a costly black market. The study highlights the regressive nature of current subsidies and the significant impact of female literacy and household income on fuel switching.

• There is a significant gap between the availability of the components required for the Jandhan-Aadhaar-Mobile (JAM) trinity and the ability of households to actually access the scheme. While nearly 90 per cent of surveyed households in Ghaziabad have access to the three requirements, only 65 per cent have at least one member who possesses all three simultaneously in their name to qualify for benefits.
• Official subsidized LPG connections are limited, leading to a flourishing black market. Only 43 per cent of households have official connections, while 22 per cent use 14.2 kg cylinders and 33 per cent use small cylinders (2 to 5 kg) obtained through informal channels.
• The current LPG subsidy regime is regressive, as households with higher per capita income are more likely to have official connections than those with low income.
• Households without official LPG connections face a 'poverty trap' where they use less energy but pay more for it. The average monthly expenditure for households without LPG is INR 657, compared to INR 393 for those with connections, despite the latter consuming more energy (341 MJ vs 292 MJ per month).
• High initial 'startup' costs and documentation requirements are the primary barriers preventing poor households from obtaining formal LPG connections. Distributors often force customers to buy expensive accessories, such as burners and regulators, as a precondition for the connection.
• Female literacy and education are critical determinants for the adoption of cleaner fuels. A one-year increase in female education is associated with an increase in the relative log odds of using both mixed and modern fuels over traditional fuels.
• The use of biomass for cooking has severe health implications for women and children. Among women respondents using biomass, 97 per cent reported eye irritation, followed by respiratory problems and burns.
• Cooking with biomass and kerosene is significantly more time-consuming than using LPG. Per cooking session, biomass requires 22.20 minutes more cooking time and 7.46 minutes more cleaning time compared to LPG.
• The study estimates that an average family in the Ghaziabad Municipal Corporation requires approximately 137.67 kg of LPG per year, which equates to 9–10 cylinders of 14.2 kg each.

APA

Parikh, J. K., Sharma, A., Singh, C., & Neelakantan, S. (2016). Providing Clean Cooking Fuel in India: Challenges and solutions. International Institute for Sustainable Development. https://www.iisd.org/system/files/publications/clean-cooking-india-challenges-solutions_0.pdf

Chicago

Parikh, Jyoti K., Ashutosh Sharma, Chandrashekhar Singh, and Shruti Neelakantan. Providing Clean Cooking Fuel in India: Challenges and solutions. International Institute for Sustainable Development, 2016. https://www.iisd.org/system/files/publications/clean-cooking-india-challenges-solutions_0.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=Parikh |first1=Jyoti K. |last2=Sharma |first2=Ashutosh |last3=Singh |first3=Chandrashekhar |last4=Neelakantan |first4=Shruti |title=Providing Clean Cooking Fuel in India: Challenges and solutions |publisher=International Institute for Sustainable Development |date=April 2016 |url=https://www.iisd.org/system/files/publications/clean-cooking-india-challenges-solutions_0.pdf |access-date=23 October 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{parikh2016providing, author = {Parikh, Jyoti K. and Sharma, Ashutosh and Singh, Chandrashekhar and Neelakantan, Shruti}, title = {{Providing Clean Cooking Fuel in India: Challenges and solutions}}, institution = {International Institute for Sustainable Development}, year = {2016}, month = apr, url = {https://www.iisd.org/system/files/publications/clean-cooking-india-challenges-solutions_0.pdf}, urldate = {2026-10-23}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }