A regional conference of eastern States and Union Territories, chaired in Patna by Union Power and Housing Minister Manohar Lal, called for accelerated action to keep India’s electricity system ahead of soaring demand. Joined by Railways and IT Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw, Minister of State Shripad Yesso Naik, Odisha Deputy Chief Minister Kanak Vardhan Singh Deo, Bihar Energy Minister Bijendra Prasad Yadav and Jharkhand Urban Development Minister Sudivya Kumar, the gathering reviewed generation, transmission and distribution challenges as peak load edges towards 270 GW later this year.

Resource adequacy and nuclear push

The centre urged States to finalise resource-adequacy plans to FY 2035, insisting on balanced fuel mixes that include at least one nuclear station per State. Peak demand could climb to 446 GW by 2034-35, requiring timely capacity tie-ups and concerted Centre-State co-ordination to meet the Viksit Bharat 2047 goal.

Transmission finance

States were asked to fast-track intra-State transmission works and resolve right-of-way delays. Funding options include listing utilities, tapping multilateral lenders and using the Rs 1 500 billion interest-free, 50-year loans announced in Budget 2025-26.

Renewables, storage and smart grids

Renewables have risen from 32 per cent in 2014 to 49 per cent in April 2025; the Power Ministry wants stricter enforcement of Renewable Purchase Obligations and dedicated State-level planning teams. With a national target of 100 GW of nuclear capacity by 2047, Ministers also pressed for storage projects to keep supply reliable as green generation expands.

Distribution reform

Distribution companies, facing cumulative investment needs of around Rs 42 000 billion by 2032, must cut aggregate technical and commercial losses and narrow the gap between average cost of supply and revenue. States were told to secure cost-reflective tariffs and accelerate works under the Revamped Distribution Sector Scheme, including universal pre-paid smart meters for Government premises by August 2025 and for large commercial users by November 2025.

Cyber-resilience and islanding

With grids increasingly digital, the conference highlighted the need for robust cyber-security protocols and islanding schemes to limit blackout risks.

The ministers pledged continuous central support, reaffirming the ambition of ‘Power for All, at All Times’ across eastern India.