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Received yesterday — 31 January 2026

ELECTRICITY AMENDMENT BILL, 2025 – EQ

In Short : The Electricity (Amendment) Bill, 2025 aims to modernise India’s power sector by introducing competition in electricity distribution, improving the financial health of DISCOMs, ensuring cost-reflective tariffs, and strengthening regulatory frameworks. The Bill seeks to enhance consumer choice, promote efficiency, attract private investment, and support India’s clean energy transition while ensuring reliable and affordable power for all.

In Detail : Central Government has issued the draft Electricity (Amendment) Bill, 2025, proposing comprehensive reforms in the power sector. The draft Bill seeks to take measures for financial sustainability, promote competition, strengthen regulatory accountability, and accelerate India’s transition towards non-fossil fuel–based electricity generation, in alignment with the vision of Viksit Bharat @ 2047. The key reforms proposed are outlined below:

i. Financial Viability: The financial sustainability of distribution licensees is critical for reliable and affordable electricity. The proposed amendments mandate cost-reflective tariffs, empower Commissions to determine tariffs suomotu effective 1st April each year.

ii. Economic Competitiveness: High industrial tariffs, cross-subsidies, and rising procurement costs have weakened industrial competitiveness. The proposed reforms aim to rationalise tariffs, unlock demand, reduce costs, and enhance India’s economic productivity and global competitiveness.

iii. Energy Transition: To achieve 500 GW of non-fossil capacity by 2030, the amendments propose empowering CERC to introduce market-based instruments to attract investment and accelerate renewable capacity addition. Enforceable non-fossil energy obligations are also proposed to align the Electricity Act with the Energy Conservation Act.

iv. Ease of Living and Ease of Doing Business: The amendments propose uniform national standards of service to improve supply quality and accountability. Consumer-friendly measures include capping assessment for unauthorised use to one year, and reducing appeal pre-deposit requirements.

v. Regulatory Strengthening: To enhance accountability and efficiency, it is proposed that Governments may refer complaints against CERC and SERC Members, with expanded grounds for removal. A 120-day timeline is proposed for adjudicatory decisions, and the strength of APTEL is proposed to be increased to address pendency.

vi. Other Reforms: Powers for installation and maintenance of electric lines are proposed to be transitioned from the repealed Telegraph Act, 1885 into the Electricity Act, 2003, with States framing compensation framework. To reduce network duplication and costs, distribution licensees are proposed be permitted to supply electricity through shared networks, subject to regulatory approval and charges.

Upon enactment, the provisions of the Electricity (Amendment) Bill, 2025 shall apply uniformly across all States, including Maharashtra.

Subsidies for specified consumer categories including tribal households may continue to be transparently funded by the State Government under Section 65, without compromising the financial sustainability of power sector.

The stakeholders comments on the draft Electricity (Amendment) Bill, 2025 were invited on 9th October, 2025. The bill is currently in consultation stage and extensive consultation with different categories of stakeholders is in process.

This Information was given by The Minister of State in the Ministry Of Power , Shri Shripad Naik, in a written reply in the Lok Sabha today.

FROM POWER DEFICIT TO POWER SUFFICIENT – EQ

In Short : Over the past decade, India has shifted from chronic power shortages to being largely power-sufficient by massively expanding electricity generation capacity and grid infrastructure. Installed capacity has nearly doubled since 2014, narrowing the gap between demand and supply to almost zero and allowing India to meet peak demand with no shortfall. This transition supports economic growth, universal electrification, and energy security.

In Detail : There is adequate availability of power in the country. Present installed generation capacity of the country is 513.730 GW. Government of India has addressed the critical issue of power deficiency by adding 289.607 GW of fresh generation capacity since April, 2014 transforming the country from power deficit to power sufficient.

The State/ UT-wise details of Power Supply Position, including Maharashtra, for the last three years and the current FY i.e. 2025-26 (upto December, 2025) are attached below. These details indicate that Energy Supplied has been commensurate to the Energy Requirement with only a marginal gap which is generally on account of constraints in the State transmission/distribution network. Hence there is no impact of shortage on the economy and industrial growth.

Further, Electricity being a concurrent subject, the supply and distribution of electricity to the various categories of consumers/areas/districts in a State/UT is within the purview of the respective State Government/Power Utility. The Central Government supplements the efforts of the State Governments by establishing power plants in Central Sector through Central Public Sector Undertakings (CPSUs) and allocating power from them to the various States / UTs.

The Government have taken the following steps to meet the increasing demand of electricity in the country:

1. Generation Planning:

  • As per National Electricity Plan (NEP), installed generation capacity in 2031-32 is likely to be 874 GW. With a view to ensure generation capacity remains ahead of projected peak demand, all the States, in consultation with CEA, have prepared their “Resource Adequacy Plans (RAPs)”, which are dynamic 10 year rolling plans and includes power generation as well as power procurement planning.
  • All the States were advised to initiate process for creating/ contracting generation capacities; from all generation sources, as per their Resource Adequacy Plans.
  • In order to augment the power generation capacity, the Government of India has initiated following capacity addition programme:

(A) The projected thermal (coal and lignite) capacity requirement by the year 2034–35 is estimated at approximately 3,07,000 MW as against the 2,11,855 MW installed capacity as on 31.03.2023. To meet this requirement, Ministry of Power has envisaged to set up an additional minimum 97,000 MW coal and lignite based thermal capacity.To meet this requirement, several initiatives have already been undertaken. Thermal capacities of around 17,360 MW have already been commissioned since April 2023 till 20.01.2026. In addition, 39,545 MW of thermal capacity (including 4,845 MW of stressed thermal power projects) is currently under construction. The contracts of 22,920 MW have been awarded and is due for construction. Further, 24,020 MW of coal and lignite-based candidate capacity has been identified which is at various stages of planning in the country.

(B)12,973.5 MW of Hydro Electric Projects are under construction. Further, 4,274 MW of Hydro Electric Projects are under various stage of planning and targeted to be completed by 2031-32.

(C) 6,600 MW of Nuclear Capacity is under construction and targeted to be completed by 2029-30. 7,000 MW of Nuclear Capacity is under various stages of planning and approval.

(D) 1,57,800 MW Renewable Capacity including 67,280 MW of Solar, 6,500 MW of Wind and 60,040 MW Hybrid power is under construction while 48,720 MW of Renewable Capacity including 35,440 MW of Solar and 11,480 MW Hybrid Power is at various stages of planning and targeted to be completed by 2029-30.

(E) In energy storage systems, 11,620 MW/69,720 MWh Pumped Storage Projects (PSPs) are under construction. Further, a total of 6,580 MW/39,480 MWh capacity of Pumped Storage Projects (PSPs) are concurred and yet to be taken up for construction. Currently, 9,653.94 MW/ 26,729.32 MWh Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) capacity are under construction and 19,797.65 MW/ 61,013.40 MWh BESS capacity are under tendering stage

2. Transmission Planning: Inter and Intra-State Transmission System has been planned and implementation of the same is taken up in matching time frame of generation capacity addition. As per the National Electricity Plan, about 1,91,474 ckm of transmission lines and 1,274 GVA of transformation capacity is planned to be added (at 220 kV and above voltage level) during the ten year period from 2022-23 to 2031-32.

3. Promotion of Renewable Energy Generation:

  • Inter State Transmission System (ISTS) charges have been waived for inter-state sale of solar and wind power for projects to be commissioned by 30th June 2025, for Green Hydrogen Projects till December 2030 and for offshore wind projects till December 2032.
  • Standard Bidding Guidelines for tariff based competitive bidding process for procurement of Power from Grid Connected Solar, Wind, Wind-Solar Hybrid and Firm &Dispatchable RE (FDRE) projects have been issued.
  • Renewable Energy Implementing Agencies (REIAs) are regularly inviting bids for procurement of RE power.
  • Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) has been permitted up to 100 percent under the automatic route.
  • To augment transmission infrastructure needed for steep RE trajectory, transmission plan has been prepared till 2032.
  • Laying of new intrastate transmission lines and creating new sub-station capacity has been funded under the Green Energy Corridor Scheme for evacuation of renewable power.
  • Scheme for setting up of Solar Parks and Ultra Mega Solar Power projects is being implemented to provide land and transmission to RE developers for installation of RE projects at large scale
  • Schemes such as Pradhan Mantri Kisan Urja Surakshaevam Utthaan Mahabhiyan (PM-KUSUM), PM Surya Ghar Muft Bijli Yojana, National Programme on High Efficiency Solar Dharti Aabha Janjatiya Gram Utkarsh Abhiyan (DA JGUA), National Green Hydrogen Mission, Viability Gap Funding (VGF) Scheme for Offshore Wind Energy Projects have been launched
  • To encourage RE consumption, Renewable Purchase Obligation (RPO) followed by Renewable Consumption Obligation (RCO) trajectory has been notified till 2029-30. The RCO which is applicable to all designated consumers under the Energy Conservation Act, 2001 will attract penalties on non-compliance.
  • “Strategy for Establishment of Offshore Wind Energy Projects” has been issued.
  • Green Term Ahead Market (GTAM) has been launched to facilitate sale of Renewable Energy Power through exchanges.
  • Production Linked Incentive (PLI) scheme has been launched to achieve the objective of localisation of supply chain for solar PV Modules.

The State-wise detail of Power Supply Position in the country in terms of Energy for the year 2022-23 and 2023-24.

State/

System /

Region

April, 2022 –  March, 2023 April, 2023 –  March, 2024
Energy Requirement Energy Supplied Energy not Supplied Energy Requirement Energy Supplied Energy not Supplied
( MU ) ( MU ) (MU) ( % ) (MU) ( MU ) (MU) ( % )
Chandigarh 1,788 1,788 0 0 1,789 1,789 0 0
Delhi 35,143 35,133 10 0 35,501 35,496 5 0
Haryana 61,451 60,945 506 0.8 63,983 63,636 348 0.5
Himachal Pradesh 12,649 12,542 107 0.8 12,805 12,767 38 0.3
Jammu & Kashmir 19,639 19,322 317 1.6 20,040 19,763 277 1.4
Punjab 69,522 69,220 302 0.4 69,533 69,528 5 0
Rajasthan 1,01,801 1,00,057 1,745 1.7 1,07,422 1,06,806 616 0.6
Uttar Pradesh 1,44,251 1,43,050 1,201 0.8 1,48,791 1,48,287 504 0.3
Uttarakhand 15,647 15,386 261 1.7 15,644 15,532 112 0.7
Northern Region 4,63,088 4,58,640 4,449 1 4,76,852 4,74,946 1,906 0.4
Chhattisgarh 37,446 37,374 72 0.2 39,930 39,872 58 0.1
Gujarat 1,39,043 1,38,999 44 0 1,45,768 1,45,740 28 0
Madhya Pradesh 92,683 92,325 358 0.4 99,301 99,150 151 0.2
Maharashtra 1,87,309 1,87,197 111 0.1 2,07,108 2,06,931 176 0.1
Dadra & Nagar Haveli and Daman & Diu 10,018 10,018 0 0 10,164 10,164 0 0
Goa 4,669 4,669 0 0 5,111 5,111 0 0
Western Region 4,77,393 4,76,808 586 0.1 5,17,714 5,17,301 413 0.1
Andhra Pradesh 72,302 71,893 410 0.6 80,209 80,151 57 0.1
Telangana 77,832 77,799 34 0 84,623 84,613 9 0
Karnataka 75,688 75,663 26 0 94,088 93,934 154 0.2
Kerala 27,747 27,726 21 0.1 30,943 30,938 5 0
Tamil Nadu 1,14,798 1,14,722 77 0.1 1,26,163 1,26,151 12 0
Puducherry 3,051 3,050 1 0 3,456 3,455 1 0
Lakshadweep 64 64 0 0 64 64 0 0
Southern Region 3,71,467 3,70,900 567 0.2 4,19,531 4,19,293 238 0.1
Bihar 39,545 38,762 783 2 41,514 40,918 596 1.4
DVC 26,339 26,330 9 0 26,560 26,552 8 0
Jharkhand 13,278 12,288 990 7.5 14,408 13,858 550 3.8
Odisha 42,631 42,584 47 0.1 41,358 41,333 25 0.1
West Bengal 60,348 60,274 74 0.1 67,576 67,490 86 0.1
Sikkim 587 587 0 0 544 543 0 0
Andaman- Nicobar 348 348 0 0.12914 386 374 12 3.18562
Eastern Region 1,82,791 1,80,888 1,903 1 1,92,013 1,90,747 1,266 0.7
Arunachal Pradesh 915 892 24 2.6 1,014 1,014 0 0
Assam 11,465 11,465 0 0 12,445 12,341 104 0.8
Manipur 1,014 1,014 0 0 1,023 1,008 15 1.5
Meghalaya 2,237 2,237 0 0 2,236 2,066 170 7.6
Mizoram 645 645 0 0 684 684 0 0
Nagaland 926 873 54 5.8 921 921 0 0
Tripura 1,547 1,547 0 0 1,691 1,691 0 0
North-Eastern Region 18,758 18,680 78 0.4 20,022 19,733 289 1.4
All India 15,13,497 15,05,914 7,583 0.5 16,26,132 16,22,020 4,112 0.3

The State-wise detail of actual Power Supply Position in the country in terms of Energy for the years 2024-25 and the current year 2025-26 (uptoDecember, 2025).

State/ April, 2024 –  March, 2025 April, 2025 –  December, 2025
System / Energy Requirement Energy Supplied Energy not Supplied Energy Requirement Energy Supplied Energy not Supplied
Region ( MU ) ( MU ) ( MU ) ( % ) ( MU ) ( MU ) ( MU ) ( % )
Chandigarh 1,952 1,952 0 0 1,509 1,509 1 0.0
Delhi 38,255 38,243 12 0 31,011 31,004 7 0.0
Haryana 70,149 70,120 30 0 55,932 55,867 65 0.1
Himachal Pradesh 13,566 13,526 40 0.3 10,295 10,259 36 0.3
Jammu & Kashmir 20,374 20,283 90 0.4 14,874 14,862 12 0.1
Punjab 77,423 77,423 0 0 60,852 60,811 41 0.1
Rajasthan 1,13,833 1,13,529 304 0.3 82,782 82,782 0 0.0
Uttar Pradesh 1,65,090 1,64,786 304 0.2 1,29,271 1,29,245 26 0.0
Uttarakhand 16,770 16,727 43 0.3 12,634 12,585 49 0.4
Northern Region 5,18,869 5,17,917 952 0.2 4,00,371 4,00,135 236 0.1
Chhattisgarh 43,208 43,180 28 0.1 31,484 31,475 8 0.0
Gujarat 1,51,878 1,51,875 3 0 1,18,066 1,18,066 0 0.0
Madhya Pradesh 1,04,445 1,04,312 133 0.1 75,024 75,017 7 0.0
Maharashtra 2,01,816 2,01,757 59 0 1,49,339 1,49,330 9 0.0
Dadra & Nagar Haveli and Daman & Diu 10,852 10,852 0 0 8,437 8,437 0 0.0
Goa 5,411 5,411 0 0 4,085 4,085 0 0.0
Western Region 5,28,924 5,28,701 223 0 3,96,482 3,96,458 24 0.0
Andhra Pradesh 79,028 79,025 3 0 59,580 59,574 6 0.0
Telangana 88,262 88,258 4 0 61,137 61,130 7 0.0
Karnataka 92,450 92,446 4 0 67,697 67,687 9 0.0
Kerala 31,624 31,616 8 0 22,947 22,945 2 0.0
Tamil Nadu 1,30,413 1,30,408 5 0 99,673 99,664 10 0.0
Puducherry 3,549 3,549 0 0 2,693 2,690 3 0.1
Lakshadweep 68 68 0 0 54 54 0 0.0
Southern Region 4,25,373 4,25,349 24 0 3,13,762 3,13,724 38 0.0
Bihar 44,393 44,217 176 0.4 37,299 37,283 15 0.0
DVC 25,891 25,888 3 0 18,590 18,587 3 0.0
Jharkhand 15,203 15,126 77 0.5 11,717 11,711 6 0.1
Odisha 42,882 42,858 24 0.1 34,037 34,032 5 0.0
West Bengal 71,180 71,085 95 0.1 56,921 56,888 32 0.1
Sikkim 574 574 0 0 378 378 0 0.0
Andaman- Nicobar 425 413 12 2.9 316 299 17 5.5
Eastern Region 2,00,180 1,99,806 374 0.2 1,58,986 1,58,924 62 0.0
Arunachal Pradesh 1,050 1,050 0 0 909 909 0 0.0
Assam 12,843 12,837 6 0 10,973 10,973 0 0.0
Manipur 1,079 1,068 10 0.9 863 861 3 0.3
Meghalaya 2,046 2,046 0 0 1,542 1,542 0 0.0
Mizoram 709 709 0 0 559 559 0 0.0
Nagaland 938 938 0 0 772 772 0 0.0
Tripura 1,939 1,939 0 0 1,523 1,523 0 0.0
North-Eastern Region 20,613 20,596 16 0.1 17,227 17,224 3 0.0
All India 16,93,959 16,92,369 1,590 0.1 12,86,829 12,86,465 363 0.0

This Information was given by The Minister of State in the Ministry of Power, Shri Shripad Naik, in a written reply in the Lok Sabha today.

Received before yesterday

Ministry of Power to Showcase ‘Prakash Ganga’ Tableau at Republic Day Parade 2026 – EQ

In Short : The Ministry of Power will present the “Prakash Ganga: Powering an Aatmanirbhar and Viksit Bharat” tableau at the Republic Day Parade 2026 on 26 January in New Delhi, celebrating India’s electricity sector’s transformation from universal electrification to global clean energy leadership. The tableau features smart technologies, renewable sources, EV charging, and grid resilience, underscoring sustainable growth and energy security

In Detail : The Ministry of Power will present its grand tableau titled “Prakash Ganga: Powering an Aatmanirbhar and Viksit Bharat” at the Republic Day Parade on January 26, 2026, showcasing India’s transformative journey in the power sector and its leadership in clean and sustainable energy.

The tableau highlights India’s evolution from achieving universal electricity access to emerging as a global clean energy leader, reinforcing the nation’s commitment to building a self-reliant and developed India. The theme Prakash Ganga – meaning “River of Light” – symbolises the seamless and continuous flow of power across the interconnected national grid.

A prominent feature of the tableau is a robotic Smart Meter model, accompanied by wind turbine generators, reflecting the integration of digital technologies, automation, and smart solutions for efficient power management.

The central section depicts the “Smart Power, Smarter Home” concept with rooftop solar installations, highlighting the government’s vision of empowering citizens as ‘prosumers’ both producers and consumers of electricity. A towering transmission structure represents last-mile connectivity, while an EV charging station and electric scooter demonstrate the power sector’s role in enabling clean mobility and a sustainable transport ecosystem.

The rear segment showcases India’s renewable energy strength through hydroelectric, wind, and geothermal power installations, symbolising the nation’s expanding clean energy footprint. The structure marked “Switching on India” represents advanced control and monitoring centres that ensure grid stability and uninterrupted electricity supply.

Mounted on a structure resembling coiled electrical cables, the tableau reflects the scale and resilience of India’s national power grid that connects millions of households and industries.

Through this Republic Day presentation, the Ministry of Power will reaffirm its commitment to providing reliable, affordable, and sustainable electricity, driving economic growth, strengthening energy security, and powering the vision of a developed India.

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