Union Minister of State for Science and Technology and Earth Sciences, Dr Jitendra Singh, dedicated the 200 MW Solar Module Manufacturing Line of Central Electronics Limited (CEL) to the nation in New Delhi. He said renewable and clean energy will play a major role in India’s growth and in meeting the net-zero by 2070 target set by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The event included the Secretary, Department of Scientific and Industrial Research, the Director General of the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), the chairman and managing director of CEL and senior scientists.

Dr Singh described the operationalisation as a significant milestone for India’s clean energy ecosystem and said it reflected growing confidence in indigenous manufacturing. He recalled that CEL made the country’s first solar cell in 1977 and established its first solar plant in 1979, and said the organisation is gaining renewed national visibility.

He noted CEL’s revival from a unit once on the verge of disinvestment into a profit-making Mini Ratna enterprise as an example of leadership, policy support and operational discipline. He highlighted the speed of execution, saying the request for proposal was issued on 24 April 2025, the bidder was selected within one month, and the manufacturing line became operational in less than a year.

CEL is expanding into future-oriented sectors, including vertical axis wind turbines, hybrid renewable systems, data centres and advanced defence electronics, signalling a broader strategic role. The Minister welcomed technology transfer with CSIR-National Aerospace Laboratories for the Automated Weather Observing System and for a new-generation Drishti Transmissometer System, noting that the latter has become fully indigenous. He said these developments mark an important stride towards Viksit Bharat 2047 and reflect enhanced capability to convert scientific excellence into national development.