Nidhi Khare Assumes Additional Charge as MNRE Secretary

17 Jan 2025 CW Team

Nidhi Khare, a 1992-batch IAS officer from the Jharkhand cadre, has taken over as Secretary of the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) in an additional capacity. Currently serving as Secretary in the Department of Consumer Affairs, she brings over three decades of administrative expertise to her new role.

In her first meeting with MNRE officials, including Additional Secretary Sudeep Jain and Joint Secretary Lalit Bohra, Khare emphasized the importance of meeting financial and operational targets while aligning renewable energy projects with global quality standards. She also prioritized fostering innovation, streamlining processes, and enhancing research and development to strengthen India’s renewable energy ecosystem.

Khare’s leadership comes as India focuses on achieving its ambitious target of 500 GW renewable energy capacity by 2030. Key initiatives such as the PM-SGMBY’s 30 GW residential solar target and the PM KUSUM scheme to promote rural solar adoption will play pivotal roles in this effort.

Khare, known for her reformist approach, previously led the establishment of the Central Consumer Protection Authority (CCPA) and implemented quality assurance frameworks at the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS). With her strategic vision, MNRE is poised to advance India’s global leadership in renewable energy.

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