Kerala has asked the Centre to more than double its quarterly kerosene allocation after a sharp reduction left the state unable to ensure supplies for all eligible ration-card holders, with poor households, remote communities and traditional fishermen facing higher costs.
Civil supplies minister Anoop Jacob urged Union minister of state for petroleum Suresh Gopi to raise Kerala’s quarterly allocation from 4,068 kilolitres to 9,564 kilolitres. The request was made in a letter after the state increased the distribution quantity for some beneficiaries despite receiving a lower quota.
The state has 95.5 lakh ration-card holders. Under the current allocation, 5.94 lakh yellow-card holders receive one litre of kerosene once every three months, while pink, blue and white card holders receive 0.5 litre each. Kerala’s government has said the reduced allocation is making it difficult to maintain supplies across these categories.
According to the minister’s letter, the Centre had earlier retained an allocation of 40.68 lakh litres for the October-December quarter, compared with an earlier allocation of 56.76 lakh litres. The reduction amounts to a shortfall of 16.08 lakh litres. The state’s civil supplies commissioner had previously requested an additional 5,496 kilolitres for the first quarter of 2026-27.
The reported shortage has particular significance for households in coastal, hilly and remote areas, where kerosene remains a household fuel. The state said economically weaker sections, migrant workers and other disadvantaged groups continue to depend on subsidised kerosene for essential needs. It also linked increased demand to restrictions on LPG supply and the resulting pressure on alternative cooking fuels.
The allocation is also used by traditional fishermen, whose boats require substantial quantities of kerosene depending on engine capacity. Jacob’s letter said the fishermen’s share being drawn from the ration allocation was worsening the shortage. Many fishermen were consequently being forced to purchase kerosene from the open market at higher prices, according to the minister.
The pressure on consumers has increased alongside the reduction in volume. Ration-shop kerosene is currently being distributed at between Rs 71 and Rs 76 per litre, according to the report. For households with limited incomes and few fuel alternatives, the combination of lower availability and higher prices affects both cooking arrangements and the operating costs of small fishing activity.
The state’s request therefore concerns both the size of Kerala’s central allocation and the way the available quota must be shared between household beneficiaries and traditional fishing communities. The government has asked the Union petroleum ministry to sanction a higher quarterly quantity so that distribution can be expanded without further disrupting supplies to existing beneficiaries.
The next step is the Centre’s response to Kerala’s request for an allocation of 9,564 kilolitres per quarter. Until a revised quota is sanctioned, the state will continue operating under the reduced allocation reported for the October-December quarter.
