Bengaluru hosted a conference on nationwide electric vehicle (EV) charging infrastructure under the PM E-DRIVE scheme where Union Minister for Heavy Industries and Steel H D Kumaraswamy announced approval for the installation of 1,243 EV chargers in Karnataka with a financial outlay of Rs 1,232.6 mn. The announcement positioned Karnataka among leading states in the transition to electric mobility, forming part of wider policy measures.

The minister said proposals worth Rs 5,038.6 mn have been approved for the installation of 4,874 EV chargers across various states and Central Public Sector Enterprises (CPSEs). He linked the programme to the Prime Minister’s vision for Viksit Bharat 2047 and the commitment to achieve Net Zero emissions by 2070.

He noted that the automotive sector contributes over seven per cent to the country’s GDP, represents nearly half of manufacturing GDP and supports close to 30 mn livelihoods. The ministry highlighted incentives to build domestic capacity, including the Rs 181,000 mn production linked incentive scheme for battery cell manufacturing, the Rs 259,380 mn PLI Auto Scheme for cleaner vehicles and the Rs 72,800 mn Rare Earth Permanent Magnet scheme. The PM E-DRIVE initiative, sized at Rs 109,000 mn, was described as accelerating adoption of electric two-wheelers, three-wheelers, buses and trucks, with Rs 20,000 mn earmarked for public charging infrastructure.

Under the FAME-II scheme Oil Marketing Companies have installed 8,932 chargers with subsidy support totalling Rs 8,735 mn, including 721 chargers in Karnataka. The ministry acknowledged the role of charge point operators and industry players such as Tata Power, ChargeZone and Mahindra & Mahindra. Work is underway on the National Unified EV Charging App Unified Bharat e-Charge (UBC) to enable discovery, access and payment across networks, and the ministry is coordinating with the Ministry of Power and states to ensure grid readiness, standardisation and digital integration while pursuing a roadmap guided by accessibility, affordability and reliability to reduce dependence on fossil fuels and support India’s ambitions in clean mobility.