India has made remarkable progress in renewable energy during the financial year 2024-25, achieving a historic milestone. The country added 25 GW of renewable energy capacity, marking a 35% increase compared to the previous year’s 18.57 GW. This achievement highlights the government’s strong push towards clean energy under the leadership of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi.
A major factor behind this growth has been the rapid expansion of solar energy. Solar power additions increased from 15 GW in the previous year to nearly 21 GW in the current year, showing a 38% rise. With this, India crossed the 100 GW mark in installed solar capacity, making it one of the leading nations in solar energy adoption.
The domestic solar manufacturing sector also witnessed significant growth. The country’s solar module manufacturing capacity almost doubled from 38 GW in March 2024 to 74 GW in March 2025. Similarly, solar PV cell manufacturing capacity increased threefold from 9 GW to 25 GW. A key milestone in this area was the establishment of India’s first ingot-wafer manufacturing facility, which started production with a capacity of 2 GW. Under the government’s Production Linked Incentive (PLI) Scheme for High-Efficiency Solar PV Modules, investments worth ₹41,000 crore were made. This initiative also created direct employment opportunities for about 11,650 people.
One of the most impactful programs supporting solar energy adoption has been the PM Surya Ghar Muft Bijli Yojana. By March 31, 2025, over 11.01 lakh households had benefited from this scheme. A total of ₹5,437.20 crore in Central Financial Assistance was distributed to 6.98 lakh beneficiaries, helping more people transition to rooftop solar energy.
In addition to solar, India made significant strides in the Green Hydrogen sector. The government awarded ₹2,220 crore in incentives for 1,500 MW per annum of electrolyzer manufacturing. Another ₹2,239 crore was allocated for producing 4,50,000 tons per annum of Green Hydrogen. To support industrial decarbonization, the National Green Hydrogen Mission funded seven pilot projects with ₹454 crore, specifically targeting the steel sector. Additionally, five transport sector pilot projects received ₹208 crore in funding, leading to the introduction of 37 hydrogen-fueled vehicles and nine hydrogen refueling stations.
The PM-KUSUM scheme, which aims to provide solar-powered irrigation solutions for farmers, saw record progress during the year. Under Component B of the scheme, 4.4 lakh solar pumps were installed, representing a 4.2-fold increase compared to the previous year. In Component C, 2.6 lakh pumps were solarized, which was 25 times higher than the previous year’s numbers. The total number of solar pumps installed or solarized under PM-KUSUM has now crossed 10 lakh. Financial spending on the scheme also saw a sharp rise, reaching ₹2,680 crore, a 268% increase from the previous year.
The Indian Renewable Energy Development Agency (IREDA) played a key role in financing clean energy projects. Loan sanctions increased by 27%, reaching ₹47,453 crore, while loan disbursements rose by 20% to ₹30,168 crore. This financial support has helped drive renewable energy adoption across the country.
Union Minister of New and Renewable Energy, Shri Prahlad Joshi, expressed confidence in India’s position in the global renewable energy sector. He noted that India may have already become or will soon become the third-largest country in terms of renewable energy capacity. He credited Prime Minister Modi’s vision for making India a leader in sustainable energy and self-reliance.
These developments highlight India’s strong commitment to clean energy and its leadership in the global transition towards sustainability. The continued expansion of renewable energy will play a crucial role in achieving the country’s climate goals and ensuring energy security for future generations.
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