The Bharat Electricity Summit 2026 continued into its second day with a national power ministerial meeting led by Union Power Minister Manohar Lal. Discussions centered on energy security, sector reforms, and future growth strategies. Minister Lal emphasized the summit’s role in realizing the vision of “Viksit Bharat 2047,” underlining the power sector’s significance in driving economic growth and infrastructure development.
India has surpassed 520 GW of installed power capacity, with notable enhancements in distribution company (Discom) performance, smart meter deployment, and reduced power shortages. Minister Lal advocated for enhanced coordination between the Centre and states to ensure affordable and efficient power generation, transmission, and distribution.
Emphasizing energy security amidst global uncertainties, Minister Lal stressed the importance of increasing per capita consumption and expediting the transition to renewable energy. He also highlighted nuclear power as a clean energy alternative. The meeting, co-chaired by Minister of State for Power and New & Renewable Energy Shripad Naik, saw the participation of senior officials and Energy Ministers from various states and Union Territories.
Minister Naik highlighted the transformative role of technology and artificial intelligence in the power sector, citing smart metering as a crucial reform. He pointed out that almost half of India’s installed capacity now originates from non-fossil fuel sources and referenced the draft National Electricity Policy as a roadmap for long-term growth. The Ministry of Power unveiled two significant reports for FY25 during the meeting — the Consumer Service Ratings of Discoms (CSRD) and the Distribution Utilities Ranking (DUR).
