India’s Energy Journey Built on Access, Affordability, Availability, Financial Viability and Sustainability
New Delhi | December 15:
Union Minister of Commerce and Industry Shri Piyush Goyal on Monday said that India’s energy sector has undergone a historic transformation over the past 11 years, driven by bold vision, honest intent and relentless execution under the leadership of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi.
Addressing a briefing in New Delhi on the death anniversary of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, Shri Goyal said the nation remembers the Iron Man not only as a political unifier but also as a visionary who believed in India’s economic and strategic self-reliance. He noted that the same spirit of self-reliance has now been realised in the country’s energy sector.
Record Growth Across Key Energy Segments
Highlighting key achievements, the Minister said India recorded its highest-ever coal production of 1,048 million tonnes in FY 2024–25, while coal imports declined by around 8 per cent, strengthening energy security.
He said India’s solar power capacity has increased 46 times over the last 11 years, making the country the third-largest solar power producer globally. Wind power capacity has also grown significantly, rising from 21 GW in 2014 to 53 GW in 2025.
Shri Goyal added that India has emerged as the fourth-largest refining hub in the world and is working towards increasing refining capacity by 20 per cent. He informed that 34,238 km of natural gas pipelines have been authorised, of which 25,923 km are already operational. He also referred to the SHANTI Bill, which seeks to allow private sector participation in nuclear energy.
From Power Scarcity to Power Sustainability
The Minister said India has transitioned from power scarcity to power security and is now moving towards power sustainability. He emphasised that this transformation was not accidental but the result of a clear vision and consistent policy efforts.
According to Shri Goyal, India’s energy transformation rests on five key pillars.
Universal Access and Affordability
The first pillar, he said, is universal access. Electricity has reached every household under the Saubhagya scheme, while 47.4 crore LED bulbs distributed under the UJALA programme have reduced electricity bills and carbon emissions. Clean cooking gas connections provided to 10 crore households have improved women’s health, and farmers have emerged as energy providers through the PM-KUSUM scheme.
The second pillar is affordability. The Minister noted that GST on solar, wind and other clean energy equipment was reduced from 12 per cent to 5 per cent. He also said the 20 per cent ethanol blending target was achieved well ahead of the original 2030 deadline. Additionally, inter-state transmission charges for solar and wind power have been waived.
Availability and Financial Viability
The third pillar is availability. Shri Goyal said power shortages have fallen sharply from 4.2 per cent in 2013 to just 0.1 per cent in 2025. The creation of a unified national grid has enabled India to meet a record peak power demand of 250 GW.
The fourth pillar is financial viability. Reforms under the PM-UDAY scheme have strengthened power distribution companies, reducing DISCOM dues from ₹1.4 lakh crore in 2022 to ₹6,500 crore in 2025.
Sustainability and Global Leadership
The fifth pillar is sustainability and global responsibility. Shri Goyal said India has become the first G20 country to achieve the Paris Agreement targets, with 50 per cent of installed power capacity now coming from non-fossil fuel sources.
Roadmap to Viksit Bharat 2047
Looking ahead, the Minister said India is recalibrating its energy strategy as it approaches 100 years of Independence in 2047. He highlighted the National Green Hydrogen Mission, which targets production of 5 million metric tonnes annually by 2030 and aims to reduce fossil fuel imports by over ₹1 lakh crore. He also referred to the PM Surya Ghar scheme, under which rooftop solar installations are being rolled out in around 20 lakh households.
Expressing confidence, Shri Goyal said India’s energy sector will emerge as a global case study in balancing scale, speed and sustainability on the path to Viksit Bharat 2047.
