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Union Minister for New and Renewable Energy Pralhad Joshi has announced that India is on course to establish a fully indigenous solar manufacturing ecosystem by 2028, moving beyond module production to develop domestic capacities for wafers and ingots. Addressing the State Review Meeting on Renewable Energy organised by the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE), the Minister said this effort will reduce import dependence, generate employment, attract investments, and position India as a global leader in clean energy manufacturing.
He lauded states for their contribution to India’s renewable energy growth, noting that the country has already crossed 251.5 GW of non-fossil fuel capacity — more than halfway to its 2030 target of 500 GW. Joshi attributed this achievement to the vision of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, which has accelerated clean energy adoption and domestic manufacturing in the sector.
Highlighting flagship schemes, Joshi said nearly 20 lakh households have benefited under the PM Surya Ghar Muft Bijli Yojana and announced that Phase II of the PM-KUSUM Scheme would be launched after the current phase ends in March 2026. He urged states and DISCOMs to ensure strict quality compliance, finalise agreements quickly, and offer competitive tariff credits to consumers.
The Minister also pointed out that India has reached the milestone of having 50% of installed electricity capacity from non-fossil sources five years ahead of schedule. He stressed the need for states to expedite Renewable Purchase Obligations, power purchase agreements and transparent land allotments to fully leverage capacity additions.
Calling on states to improve ease of doing business in the renewable sector, Joshi advocated single-window clearances, reduced compliances and proactive resolution of land and right-of-way issues. He also encouraged wind-rich states to prepare time-bound roadmaps for new site allocations and transmission readiness.
On domestic manufacturing, the Minister highlighted the success of the ?24,000-crore PLI Scheme for High Efficiency Solar PV Modules, which has spurred 100 GW of module manufacturing capacity, ?50,000 crore in investments, and created over 12,600 direct jobs.
Union Minister of State for New and Renewable Energy Shripad Naik underscored the transformative impact of PM-KUSUM and PM Surya Ghar schemes, noting that out of the 49 lakh solar pumps allocated under PM-KUSUM, over 16 lakh have already been installed or solarised. This has saved 1.3 billion litres of diesel annually, cut 40 million tonnes of CO2 emissions, and reduced foreign exchange outgo.
MNRE Secretary Santosh Kumar Sarangi said India’s energy transition is key to achieving net zero by 2070, with targets of 1,800 GW renewable capacity by 2047 and 5,000 GW by 2070.
The state review meeting featured a detailed assessment of PM Surya Ghar Muft Bijli Yojana and PM-KUSUM, progress updates from states, and stakeholder consultations on the design and implementation of PM-KUSUM 2.0. Industry associations also presented their concerns and recommendations to accelerate renewable energy deployment across the country.
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