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IEEFA Report: E-Cooking 37% Cheaper than LPG, India's $26.4 Billion Import Bill & PM-Surya Ghar Yojana for Grid Stability

EconomyEnvironmentInfrastructureHIGH
Target:UPSC GS-IIIMPSCTeachingSSC GAPrelims HighMains HighStatic GK Link
16 Mar 2026
~2 min
Source: The Hindu
Key Data:$26.4 billion37% cheaper85% vs 40% efficiency332 million connections37% households250 GW (May 2024)
Bodies:IEEFAMinistry of PowerBEEIndia Smart Grid ForumUP Electricity Regulatory Commission
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What This Article Covers

1.An IEEFA study finds electric cooking is 37% cheaper than non-subsidised LPG, highlighting a significant economic shift.

2.India's $26.4 billion annual LPG import bill and reliance on the Strait of Hormuz pose major energy security risks.

3.Mass electrification of kitchens necessitates grid upgrades, demand response technology (OpenADR), and policies like PM-Surya Ghar Yojana to manage peak load.

The Big Picture
Prelims · HighMains · High

Transitioning to electric cooking (e-cooking) is now economically viable and offers strategic energy security by reducing India's massive $26.4 billion LPG import dependency. However, mass adoption requires smart grid management, time-of-use tariffs, and integration with rooftop solar to prevent overwhelming peak demand and ensure a stable power supply.

Exam Lens

Quick Exam Facts From News

Annual LPG Import Bill$26.4 billion (FY24-25)
E-Cooking Cost Advantage37% cheaper than non-subsidised LPG
Induction vs LPG Efficiency85% vs 40% energy transfer
LPG Connections (2025)332 million
Households Using Biomass37%
PM-Surya Ghar Target300 free units for 10 million households

1-Minute Revision

  • ›Annual LPG Import Bill: $26.4 billion (FY24-25)
  • ›E-Cooking Cost Advantage: 37% cheaper than non-subsidised LPG
  • ›Target this Data: $26.4 billion - India's annual LPG import bill (FY24-25).
  • ›Target this Nodal Body: Institute for Energy Economics and Financial Analysis (IEEFA) - published the key study on e-cooking cost.
  • ›Target this Scheme: PM-Surya Ghar Yojana - aims for 300 free units for 10 million households, boosting rooftop solar.

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Practice exam-style questions, track your score, and strengthen your recall.

Q1Static LinkageEasy

The 'PM-Surya Ghar Yojana', mentioned in the context of boosting rooftop solar, falls under the purview of which ministry?

Q2Statement-basedHard

Consider the following statements regarding the findings on electric cooking (e-cooking) in India:

1. According to an IEEFA study, e-cooking is cheaper than both non-subsidised LPG and the subsidised LPG provided under the PM Ujjwala Yojana.

2. Induction cooktops are significantly more energy-efficient than LPG burners, transferring about 85% of energy to the cooking vessel.

3. A major challenge for mass adoption of e-cooking is its potential to exacerbate the evening peak demand on India's power grid.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

Q3Data-centricMedium

According to the article, what was India's estimated annual import bill for cooking gas (LPG) in the financial year 2024-25?

Q4Application/ImpactMedium

What is the primary strategic rationale, as per the article, for India to shift from LPG-based cooking to electric cooking at a large scale?

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