India has recorded its highest-ever annual wind capacity addition of six point zero five gigawatts (GW) in financial year 2025–26, surpassing the previous landmark of five point five GW set in financial year 2016–17. The annual addition represents an increase of nearly 46 per cent over the capacity in financial year 2024–25 and signals a decisive acceleration in onshore wind deployment. The scale of yearly additions indicates improvements in manufacturing throughput and project commissioning timelines, with developers achieving faster grid synchronisation.

With this addition, the country’s cumulative installed wind power capacity has crossed 56 GW, reinforcing momentum in the sector driven by improved policy clarity, transmission readiness and competitive tariff discovery. The growth is attributed to improved project execution and greater pipeline maturity across key wind states. The development is also supported by the progressive roll-out of green energy open access and an expanding portfolio of wind?solar hybrid projects.

States such as Gujarat, Karnataka and Maharashtra emerged as primary contributors to capacity addition during the year, underpinning the nationwide uptick. Policy measures cited as enabling factors include concessional custom duty on certain components and a graded waiver of inter?state transmission system charges until June, 2028, along with competitive bidding mechanisms and a separate Wind Renewable Consumption Obligation framework. Technical support from the National Institute of Wind Energy and other institutions has bolstered planning and execution capacity. The combination of state level efforts and central schemes has improved site selection, land acquisition and transmission planning, smoothing the path from award to commissioning.

The record addition significantly strengthens India’s renewable energy portfolio and contributes to the national target of 500 GW of non?fossil fuel based energy capacity by 2030. The wind sector has evolved since its initiation in the early 1990s into a robust market with a strong domestic ecosystem and policy framework. Continued policy support, transmission readiness and a sizeable project pipeline are expected to sustain momentum. Emphasis on hybridisation and open access models is likely to broaden participation and encourage further investment in grid?connected wind deployment.