Union Minister for New and Renewable Energy Shri Pralhad Joshi has announced that India is firmly moving towards building a complete Swadeshi solar value chain, with the target of achieving indigenous solar cell manufacturing by 2028. Speaking at the State Review Meeting on Renewable Energy organised by Ministry of New and Renewable Energy, the Minister said that the country is now advancing beyond modules to develop domestic capacity for wafers and ingots as well, ensuring that the entire solar manufacturing ecosystem is established within India. The Minister said that this step will not only reduce import dependence but also generate employment, boost investment, and strengthen India’s position as a global leader in clean energy manufacturing.

In his address, Shri Joshi appreciated the remarkable efforts of states in advancing renewable energy initiatives, noting that these contributions are strengthening India’s position as a global leader in the sector. He highlighted that India’s 2030 vision of achieving 500 GW of non-fossil capacity is already more than halfway achieved, with the country crossing 251.5 GW of non-fossil capacity. He termed this achievement a testament to the visionary leadership of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, which transformed India’s clean energy growth and domestic manufacturing in RE sector, and is accelerating the march towards Viksit Bharat.

Progress Under PM Surya Ghar and PM-KUSUM

Highlighting key schemes, the Minister said that nearly 20 lakh households have already benefitted under the PM Surya Ghar Muft Bijli Yojana. He urged states and DISCOMs to ensure strict quality compliance, finalise agreements without delay, and offer the best possible tariff credits to consumers. On PM-KUSUM, he noted that after initial reluctance, the scheme has now gained strong momentum across states, with demand for additional allocations from Chief Ministers. He announced that the second phase of PM-KUSUM will be launched after the present phase ends in March 2026.

On the issue of free electricity, Shri Joshi observed that benefits must be delivered in a financially sustainable way. He pointed out that nearly half the beneficiaries under the PM Surya Ghar Yojana are receiving zero electricity bills, demonstrating a model that combines relief for citizens with long-term sustainability.

Strengthening Renewable Energy Growth and Ease of Doing Business

The Minister underlined that India has also achieved the milestone of 50% of installed electricity capacity from non-fossil fuel sources five years ahead of schedule. He, however, cautioned that capacity addition must be complemented by effective utilisation, and urged states to expedite Renewable Purchase Obligations (RPOs), power purchase agreements (PPAs), and land allotments in a transparent manner. “Timely action is the backbone of this system. If we keep delaying procurement on the expectation that tariffs will fall further, we are missing the bigger picture”, the Minister said.

Shri Joshi called upon states to strengthen Ease of Doing Business in the renewable sector by adopting single-window clearance systems, reducing compliances, and resolving Right of Way and law-and-order issues faced by developers. He stressed that investor confidence hinges on proactive facilitation by state governments.

The Minister also called upon wind-rich states to come up with time-bound roadmaps for new site allocation and transmission readiness. He welcomed the recent GST cut on renewable energy devices and services from 12% to 5%, which would make solar, wind, biogas, and waste-to-energy systems more affordable. He urged states to promote these technologies more actively.

On domestic manufacturing, Shri Joshi highlighted the success of the PLI Scheme for High Efficiency Solar PV Modules with an outlay of ₹24,000 crore. He informed that India now has 100 GW of module manufacturing capacity, ₹50,000 crore investments, and over 12,600 direct jobs created under the scheme.

Shri Joshi also stressed that India’s energy transition will succeed only through collective action by the Centre, states, industry, and citizens. He assured full support from MNRE and invited all stakeholders to share ideas for accelerating the renewable energy growth story.

Speaking at the occasion, Union Minister of State for New and Renewable Energy Shri Shripad Naik said that PM-KUSUM and PM Surya Ghar: Muft Bijli Yojana schemes lie at the heart of our mission to ensure energy security, sustainability, and empowerment of citizens. Shri Naik also said that PM-KUSUM Scheme has been a true game-changer for our farmers. Out of the 49 lakh solar pumps allocated, over 16 lakhs have already been installed or solarised. This has reduced diesel consumption by 1.3 billion litres annually, cut 40 million tonnes of CO₂ emissions, and saved precious foreign exchange. In PMSGY, installations are happening at the rate of 4,500 systems per day, supported by over 18,000 vendors nationwide. The Minister added that PM KUSUM and PMSGY represent the spirit of India’s energy transition, empowering farmers and households, cutting emissions, creating jobs, and positioning India as a global leader in renewable energy.

Secretary, MNRE Shri Santosh Kumar Sarangi said that India’s green energy transition is vital for achieving net zero by 2070, with targets of 1,800 GW renewable capacity by 2047 and 5,000 GW by 2070. He highlighted successful state practices such as Maharashtra’s PM-KUSUM implementation, Gujarat’s renewable clusters, and Karnataka’s land facilitation

The review meeting organised by Ministry of New and Renewable Energy featured a state-wise assessment of PM Surya Ghar Muft Bijli Yojana and PM-KUSUM, with states presenting their progress and challenges. Industry associations made detailed presentations on current issues in the renewable energy sector. There were also stakeholder consultations on the design and implementation of PM-KUSUM 2.0. These deliberations aimed at aligning state action, industry inputs, and policy reforms to accelerate renewable energy deployment across the country. The meeting brought together representatives from renewable energy-rich states to review progress and chart the future roadmap for India’s clean energy transition.

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Navin Sreejith\ Vivek Vishwash