India Adds Record 45 GW Solar In FY 2025-26, Crosses Historic 150 GW Capacity Milestone

India has achieved a major milestone in its renewable energy journey by reaching around 150 GW of installed solar photovoltaic (PV) capacity by March 31, 2026. This marks a significant step forward in the country’s clean energy transition and reflects strong policy support, increasing investments, and rapid project execution across the solar sector.

A key highlight of this growth is the pace of installations in early 2026. In the first quarter of calendar year 2026 (January to March), India added approximately 14.45 GW of solar PV capacity. This is a substantial addition within just three months and indicates a strong project pipeline as well as improved execution capabilities. The quarterly addition also shows a sharp increase compared to the same period in 2025. In Q1 2025, the country installed around 7.78 GW, which means the year-on-year growth in Q1 installations stands at about 85.7%.

Looking at the broader financial year, India added nearly 44.61 GW of solar capacity during FY 2025–26, which can be rounded to about 45 GW. This is one of the highest annual additions recorded in the country so far and underlines the accelerating deployment of solar energy across utility-scale and distributed segments. Despite this strong growth, there were some fluctuations during the year. The lowest quarterly installation in FY 2025–26 was about 8.48 GW, indicating variability in project commissioning timelines and execution cycles.

Ground-mounted solar projects continue to dominate India’s solar capacity mix. Out of the total 150 GW installed capacity, around 114.87 GW comes from ground-mounted installations. These large-scale projects remain the backbone of India’s solar expansion, driven by government tenders, large project developers, and economies of scale. At the same time, rooftop solar is emerging as a strong contributor, accounting for approximately 25.73 GW. This segment has gained momentum due to increasing consumer awareness, supportive policies, and the push for decentralized energy generation.

India’s rapid expansion in solar capacity has also strengthened its position globally. The country is now ranked as the third-largest solar PV market in the world, reflecting its growing importance in the global renewable energy landscape. This achievement is not only a result of capacity additions but also improvements in domestic manufacturing and supply chains.

Another important development is the growth in India’s solar module manufacturing capacity, which has reached around 172 GW. This expansion supports the government’s focus on self-reliance and reducing dependence on imports. Increased domestic manufacturing is expected to enhance supply security, create jobs, and improve the competitiveness of the Indian solar industry. Overall, the data highlights a strong upward trajectory for India’s solar sector, with record installations, expanding manufacturing capacity, and increasing global recognition.