Dharmendra Pradhan

Pradhan holds the distinction of being the longest-serving Minister of Petroleum and Natural Gas in independent India's history, serving from 2014 to 2021. During his tenure, he oversaw the implementation of the world's largest direct benefit transfer scheme for cooking gas subsidies, the PAHAL program, which covered over 15 crore households. The Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana, launched under his leadership, provided free LPG connections to more than 8 crore women living below the poverty line, significantly reducing indoor air pollution and improving public health in rural India.