Power Minister Chairs National Ministerial Meet at Bharat Electricity Summit

23 Mar 2026 CW Team

Manohar Lal said the summit will be central to achieving the vision of Viksit Bharat 2047 and stressed that power is fundamental to economic growth and infrastructure development. He highlighted achievements including over 520 gigawatts (GW) of installed capacity, improved distribution company performance, large-scale smart meter deployment and reduced power shortages. He called for coordinated action between the Centre and States to ensure affordable and efficient generation, transmission and distribution, and assured full support from the Centre for necessary legal and administrative reforms.

Shripad Naik underlined the role of technology and artificial intelligence in transforming the power sector and cited smart metering as a key example. He noted that half of India's installed capacity is from non-fossil fuel sources and emphasised the significance of the draft National Electricity Policy in outlining strategies to meet the country's energy goals. Secretaries from the Ministries reiterated the need for collective and coordinated measures to enhance energy security and meet rising demand.

Two reports for fiscal year 2024-25 were released at the meeting: the Consumer Service Ratings of distribution companies and the Distribution Utilities Ranking. The consumer service report assesses service standards and assigns one of seven grades from A+ to D; of the 66 companies evaluated, six were rated A+, 21 were A and 27 were B+. The distribution utilities ranking adopts a multi-dimensional framework covering institutional capability, financial sustainability, operational efficiency and service outcomes, with 66 utilities participating to inform policy and promote a financially sustainable, operationally efficient and consumer-centric distribution ecosystem.

A national power ministerial meeting was convened on the second day of the Bharat Electricity Summit 2026 under the chairmanship of the Union Minister for Power, Manohar Lal. The meeting was co-chaired by Shripad Naik, Minister of State for Power and New and Renewable Energy, and was attended by the Administrator of Chandigarh and Punjab, senior secretaries and energy ministers from several States and Union territories. Officials from the Ministries of Power and New and Renewable Energy also participated. Manohar Lal said the summit will be central to achieving the vision of Viksit Bharat 2047 and stressed that power is fundamental to economic growth and infrastructure development. He highlighted achievements including over 520 gigawatts (GW) of installed capacity, improved distribution company performance, large-scale smart meter deployment and reduced power shortages. He called for coordinated action between the Centre and States to ensure affordable and efficient generation, transmission and distribution, and assured full support from the Centre for necessary legal and administrative reforms. Shripad Naik underlined the role of technology and artificial intelligence in transforming the power sector and cited smart metering as a key example. He noted that half of India's installed capacity is from non-fossil fuel sources and emphasised the significance of the draft National Electricity Policy in outlining strategies to meet the country's energy goals. Secretaries from the Ministries reiterated the need for collective and coordinated measures to enhance energy security and meet rising demand. Two reports for fiscal year 2024-25 were released at the meeting: the Consumer Service Ratings of distribution companies and the Distribution Utilities Ranking. The consumer service report assesses service standards and assigns one of seven grades from A+ to D; of the 66 companies evaluated, six were rated A+, 21 were A and 27 were B+. The distribution utilities ranking adopts a multi-dimensional framework covering institutional capability, financial sustainability, operational efficiency and service outcomes, with 66 utilities participating to inform policy and promote a financially sustainable, operationally efficient and consumer-centric distribution ecosystem.

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