Accelerating the Health Benefits of Scaling Clean Household Energy in India

Direct exposure to household air pollution from cooking and heating with solid fuels caused more than one million deaths (ten lakh) in India in 2021. Household air pollution remains a leading source of ambient air pollution across the country, disproportionately affecting people in rural areas and negatively affecting air quality in urban areas. Sustained, near exclusive use of clean household energy is required to substantially reduce exposures to household air pollution and to promote public health at the population level.

Since its inception in 2016, the Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojna (PMUY) program, government’s flagship effort to scale clean household energy for poor households, has ushered in unprecedented liquified petroleum gas (LPG) access. LPG is a popular fuel used for cooking. Yet, many households continue to rely on solid fuel for household energy needs. This report presents findings from a cost-effectiveness analysis of various state-level subsidy options to highlight the health benefits of sustained use of liquified petroleum gas in households compared to solid fuels.