Union Minister of Commerce and Industry Shri Piyush Goyal on Tuesday said that India’s energy sector transformation over the past 11 years reflects how a bold vision, policy integrity and consistent execution can reshape a nation’s development trajectory, with solar energy and sustainability emerging as central pillars of growth.
Addressing a media briefing in New Delhi on the death anniversary of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, Shri Goyal said the country remembers the Iron Man of India not only for political integration, but also for his vision of economic and strategic self-reliance. He noted that this spirit has been carried forward under the leadership of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, particularly in India’s energy sector reforms.
Highlighting key milestones, the Minister said India recorded its highest-ever coal production of 1,048 million tonnes in FY 2024–25, while coal imports declined by nearly 8 per cent. At the same time, renewable energy capacity expansion has accelerated sharply. India’s solar power capacity has increased 46 times over the last 11 years, positioning the country as the world’s third-largest solar power producer, while wind energy capacity has risen from 21 GW in 2014 to 53 GW in 2025.
Shri Goyal said India has also emerged as the fourth-largest refining hub globally and is working to expand its refining capacity by 20 per cent. In the natural gas segment, 34,238 km of pipeline has been authorised, of which 25,923 km is already operational. He further referred to the proposed SHANTI Bill, which aims to enable private sector participation in nuclear energy, signalling diversification of India’s clean and reliable energy mix.
He stated that India has transitioned from power scarcity to power security and is now moving towards power sustainability. According to the Minister, the country’s energy transformation rests on five foundational pillars: universal access, affordability, availability, financial viability and sustainability.
On universal access, Shri Goyal said electricity has been provided to every household under the Saubhagya scheme, while 47.4 crore LED bulbs distributed under the UJALA programme have reduced power bills and carbon emissions. He noted that access to electricity has enabled children to study after sunset and improved overall quality of life. He added that 10 crore households now have access to clean cooking gas, improving women’s health outcomes, and that farmers have become energy producers through the PM-KUSUM scheme.
Addressing affordability, the Minister said GST on solar, wind and other clean energy equipment was reduced from 12 per cent to 5 per cent. He also noted that India achieved its 20 per cent ethanol blending target well ahead of the original 2030 timeline and waived inter-State transmission charges for solar and wind power, further supporting renewable energy deployment.
On availability, Shri Goyal said power shortages declined from 4.2 per cent in 2013 to just 0.1 per cent in 2025. The creation of a unified national grid has enabled India to successfully meet a record peak power demand of 250 GW.
He said financial viability of the power sector has been strengthened through reforms under the PM-UDAY scheme, with DISCOM dues falling sharply from ₹1.4 lakh crore in 2022 to ₹6,500 crore in 2025.
Highlighting sustainability and global responsibility, Shri Goyal said India has become the first G20 nation to achieve its Paris Agreement commitments, with 50 per cent of installed power capacity now sourced from non-fossil fuels.
Looking ahead to India’s centenary year of Independence in 2047, the Minister said energy strategies are being recalibrated to meet future challenges. He cited the National Green Hydrogen Mission, which targets production of 5 million metric tonnes annually by 2030 and aims to reduce fossil fuel imports by over ₹1 lakh crore. He also highlighted the PM Surya Ghar scheme, under which rooftop solar systems are being installed across nearly 20 lakh households.
Quoting the Prime Minister, Shri Goyal said the government is strengthening the energy sector by empowering citizens. He added that recommendations of the High-Powered Committee on coal, including faster exploration, mining and coal gasification, are under active consideration.
Expressing confidence in India’s long-term trajectory, Shri Goyal said that as the country moves towards Viksit Bharat 2047, its energy sector will stand out globally as a case study in balancing scale, speed and sustainability.
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