Andhra Pradesh launches the “Deepam – 2” policy under which the government will distribute a free cooking gas cylinder in different villages in the state. The policy offers three cylinders per annum to eligible women beneficiaries at the rate of one cylinder, every four months. The beneficiaries will need a white ration card, a linked bank account, and an existing gas connection to be eligible for the scheme. The scheme is expected to cost the state government $319 million annually.