India Achieves 121.68 GW Solar Manufacturing Capacity Creating Over 15,000 Direct And Indirect Jobs

The Ministry of New and Renewable Energy has shared detailed information in the Lok Sabha through an Unstarred Question about solar PV power projects developed by the Solar Energy Corporation of India and the present status of solar manufacturing and employment generation in the country. The reply highlights how SECI-owned projects and domestic manufacturing under government schemes are supporting India’s clean energy goals.

SECI has set up and is operating several solar PV power projects across different states using its own investment. These projects are spread across mainland India as well as island regions, showing an effort to promote solar power even in remote locations. In Rajasthan, SECI has a 10 MW ground-mounted solar project in Badi Sid, Jodhpur. Another 10 MW ground-mounted project is operational in Kolar, Karnataka. One of the largest SECI-owned projects is a 100 MW ground-mounted solar power plant in Rajnandgaon, Chhattisgarh, which is supported by a 140 MWh Battery Energy Storage System. This project highlights the integration of energy storage with solar power to improve reliability.

Apart from large projects, SECI is also operating smaller installations. A 1 MW rooftop solar PV project is functional in Portblair in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands. In Lakshadweep, SECI has commissioned a 1.7 MW ground-mounted solar PV project along with a 1.4 MWh battery energy storage system in the islands of Agatti and Kavaratti. These projects are important for reducing dependence on diesel-based power in island regions. The ministry also clarified that SECI does not currently have any solar power projects in operation in Uttar Pradesh.

The ministry also provided details about the current state of solar PV module manufacturing in India. As per the Approved List of Models and Manufacturers, the total installed manufacturing capacity of solar PV modules in the country stood at 121.68 GW as of November 25, 2025. Despite this growing domestic capacity, India continued to import solar PV modules. During the financial year 2025-26, up to September 2025, the country imported 180.58 lakh solar PV modules. The total value of these imports was reported at 386.33 million US dollars.

The Production Linked Incentive Scheme for High-Efficiency Solar PV Modules is playing a key role in strengthening domestic manufacturing. Under this scheme, companies have been issued Letters of Award and are free to set up their manufacturing facilities anywhere in India. Under Tranche-I, companies such as Shirdi Sai Electrical Limited and Indosol Solar Private Limited are setting up units in Andhra Pradesh, while Reliance Industries Limited and Adani New Industries Limited are establishing facilities in Gujarat. Under Tranche-II, companies include FS India Solar Ventures Private Limited and TP Solar Limited in Tamil Nadu, Waaree Energies Limited in Gujarat and Maharashtra, and Avaada Electro Private Limited in Uttar Pradesh and Maharashtra.

The solar PV sector is also creating employment across states. As of October 31, 2025, manufacturing units supported under the PLI scheme have generated a large number of jobs. Reliance Industries Limited in Gujarat under Tranche-II reported the creation of 10,402 direct jobs and 1,683 indirect jobs. Avaada Electro Private Limited, with units in Uttar Pradesh and Maharashtra, created 1,176 direct jobs and 1,523 indirect jobs. Employment generation is also seen in SECI-owned projects. For instance, the 100 MW solar project in Chhattisgarh generated 2 direct jobs and 83 indirect jobs. Overall, the information shared by the ministry reflects steady progress in solar project development, manufacturing growth, and job creation in India’s renewable energy sector.