Why in News
The Press Information Bureau (PIB) issued a PIB Backgrounder on the Incentive Scheme for Promotion of Domestic Piped Natural Gas (PNG) Connections. Piped Natural Gas (PNG) is cooking gas supplied to homes through a pipeline network rather than in cylinders.
Core facts
The scheme incentivises City Gas Distribution (CGD) entities to expand domestic PNG connections. City Gas Distribution (CGD) is the network that retails natural gas to households, commercial units and vehicles in a defined geographical area. The nodal ministry is the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas. Release specific outlay and connection figures could not be verified, as the PIB detail page did not resolve this run.
Static Context
The Petroleum and Natural Gas Regulatory Board (PNGRB) authorises and regulates CGD networks. The PNGRB was set up under the Petroleum and Natural Gas Regulatory Board Act, 2006. It regulates refining, storage, transport, distribution and marketing of petroleum products and natural gas, and grants CGD authorisations through competitive bidding rounds. Domestic PNG and Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) together form the priority segment for gas supply, which receives domestic gas allocation on a priority basis. The scheme sits alongside the clean cooking access agenda pursued earlier through the Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana (PMUY), which provided Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) connections to poor households.
Prelims angle
The regulator to remember is the PNGRB and the range of activities it regulates. Distinguish PNG (piped, network based) from LPG (cylinder based) and CNG (vehicle fuel). Note the priority allocation of domestic natural gas to the CGD household segment.
Mains angle
GS3, energy and infrastructure. A question can frame domestic gas access as a clean energy transition and last mile infrastructure issue. The scheme links to energy security, import dependence on natural gas, and household air quality gains from switching away from solid fuels.
Matching Previous Year Question
“[2025] Consider the following activities:
I. Production of crude oil
II. Refining, storage and distribution of petroleum
III. Marketing and sale of petroleum products
IV. Production of natural gas
How many of the above activities are regulated by the Petroleum and Natural Gas Regulatory Board in our country?
(a) Only one
(b) Only two
(c) Only three
(d) All the four
Answer: (b)”
PIB Link
https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=2309647®=3&lang=1
