The Government of India has achieved near-universal household electrification under the Pradhan Mantri Sahaj Bijli Har Ghar Yojana (SAUBHAGYA), with over 28.6 crore households electrified nationwide, the Ministry of Power informed the Rajya Sabha on Tuesday.
Launched in October 2017, the SAUBHAGYA scheme aimed to provide electricity connections to all willing un-electrified households in rural areas and poor households in urban areas. At the time of launch, the number of un-electrified households in the country was estimated at 30 crore, of which 28.6 crore households were electrified during the scheme period. All States have reported 100% electrification of identified willing households as of March 31, 2019, according to the government.
The information was shared by Minister of State for Power Shri Shripad Naik in a written reply in the Rajya Sabha.
Over Rs 24,000 crore mobilised for electrification
To fund electrification under SAUBHAGYA and allied schemes, Rural Electrification Corporation (REC) raised extra-budgetary borrowings of Rs 24,109.30 crore, including Rs 2,950 crore for SAUBHAGYA and Rs 21,159.30 crore under the Deen Dayal Upadhyaya Gram Jyoti Yojana (DDUGJY). The government confirmed that the entire amount was utilised within the stipulated timeframe.
Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Assam among top beneficiaries
Among the States, Uttar Pradesh led electrification efforts, with over 9.18 crore households connected, followed by Bihar (3.26 crore), Assam (2.33 crore), Odisha (2.45 crore), Rajasthan (2.13 crore), Madhya Pradesh (1.98 crore), and Maharashtra (1.52 crore).
RDSS boosts electrification in tribal, remote & border areas
In parallel, the government has rolled out the Revamped Distribution Sector Scheme (RDSS) to improve the quality, reliability, and financial sustainability of power distribution. Under RDSS, projects worth Rs 2.62 lakh crore have been sanctioned for infrastructure strengthening and smart metering, including Rs 6,522 crore specifically for electrifying 13.65 lakh households.
These include electrification of:
- Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Group (PVTG) households under PM-JANMAN
- Tribal households under DA-JGUA
- Scheduled Caste households under PM-AJAY
- Remote and border area households under the Vibrant Village Programme (VVP)
As of the latest update, over 2.91 lakh households have been electrified under RDSS, with ongoing work across multiple States and Union Territories.
Strengthening last-mile power connectivity
The government said the combined impact of SAUBHAGYA and RDSS has significantly strengthened last-mile electricity connectivity, improved service quality, and enhanced energy access for marginalized communities, particularly in tribal, rural, and difficult-to-reach regions.
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