Parliament Question: Availability of electricity in Urban and Rural areas

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF POWER RAJYA SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.3514 ANSWERED ON 23.03.2026 AVAILABILITY OF ELECTRICITY IN URBAN AND RURAL AREAS 3514 SHRI A. A. RAHIM: Will the Minister of POWER be pleased to state: (a) the details of availability of electricity and the extent of load shedding reported in urban and rural areas during the last three years, State-wise and year-wise ; (b) whether there are significant disparities in the availability and reliability of electricity supply between urban and rural areas and, if so, the details thereof; (c) the reasons for load shedding reported in various States during the said period, including shortages in generation, transmission constraints and distribution-related issues; and (d) the steps taken and assistance given by Government to ensure an uninterrupted and reliable electricity supply in both urban and rural areas across the country? A N S W E R THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF POWER (SHRI SHRIPAD NAIK) (a) to (d): There is adequate availability of power in the country. Present installed generation capacity of the country is 520.511 GW (as on January, 2026). Government of India has addressed the critical issue of power deficiency by adding 296.388 GW of fresh generation capacity since April, 2014 transforming the country from power deficit to power sufficient. The state- wise ‘Power Supply Position’ in terms of energy for last three financial years and the current financial year i.e. FY 2025-26 (up to January, 2026) is given at Annexure-I. The ‘Energy Supplied’ has been commensurate to the ‘Energy Requirement’ with only a marginal gap which is generally on account of constraints in the State transmission / distribution network. Electricity being a concurrent subject, the supply and distribution of electricity is responsibility of the respective State Government / Distribution Utility. Hence, it is the responsibility of the respective distribution utility to take necessary actions to provide reliable and quality power to the consumers. The Central Government supplements the efforts of the State Governments by establishing power plants through Central Public Sector Undertakings (CPSUs) and making power available to the various States / UTs. Further, Government of India has supplemented the efforts of the States earlier through schemes like Deen Dayal Upadhyaya Gram Jyoti Yojana (DDUGJY), Integrated Power Development Scheme (IPDS), Pradhan Mantri Sahaj Bijli Har Ghar Yojana (SAUBHAGYA) and currently under Revamped Distribution Sector Scheme (RDSS), to help them achieve the objective of providing quality and reliable supply of power.Government of India launched RDSS in July 2021 with the objective of improving the quality and reliability of power supply to consumers through a financially sustainable and operationally efficient distribution Sector. The scheme has an outlay of Rs. 3,03,758 Cr. and estimated Gross Budgetary Support (GBS) from Central Government of Rs. 97,631 Cr. Under the scheme, financial assistance is being provided to the Distribution Utilities (excluding Private Sector Utilities) for loss reduction infrastructure works and smart metering works. Projects worth Rs. 1.53 lakh crore for loss reduction infrastructure and Rs. 1.31 lakh crore for smart metering works have been sanctioned under the scheme which would help improve the reliability and quality of power supply in the country. Further, the Government have taken the following steps to ensure uninterrupted power supply to all sectors: 1. Generation and Storage Planning: (i) As per National Electricity Plan (NEP), installed generation capacity in 2031-32 is likely to be 874 GW. With a view to ensure generation capacity remains ahead of projected peak demand, all the States, in consultation with CEA, have prepared their “Resource Adequacy Plans (RAPs)”, which are dynamic 10-year rolling plans and includes power generation as well as power procurement planning. (ii) All the States were advised to initiate process for creating/ contracting generation capacities; from all generation sources, as per their Resource Adequacy Plans. (iii) In order to augment the power generation capacity, the Government of India has initiated following capacity addition programme: (A) The projected thermal (coal and lignite) capacity requirement by the year 2034–35 is estimated at approximately 3,07,000 MW as against the 2,11,855 MW installed capacity as on 31.03.2023. To meet this requirement, Ministry of Power has envisaged to set up an additional minimum 97,000 MW coal and lignite based thermal capacity. To meet this requirement, several initiatives have already been undertaken. Thermal capacities of around 18,160 MW have already been commissioned since April 2023 till 31.01.2026. In addition, 38,745 MW of thermal capacity (including 4,845 MW of stressed thermal power projects) is currently under construction. The contracts of 22,920 MW have been awarded and are due for construction. Further, 24,020 MW of coal and lignite-based candidate capacity has been identified which is at various stages of planning in the country. (B) 12,723.50 MW of Hydro Electric Projects are under construction. Further, 4,274 MW of Hydro Electric Projects are under various stage of planning and targeted to be completed by 2031-32. (C) 6,600 MW of Nuclear Capacity is under construction and targeted to be completed by 2029-30. 7,000 MW of Nuclear Capacity is under various stages of planning and approval. (D) 1,57,800 MW Renewable Capacity including 67,280 MW of Solar, 6,500 MW of Wind and 60,040 MW Hybrid power is under construction while 48,720 MW of Renewable Capacity including 35,440 MW of Solar and 11,480 MW Hybrid Power is at various stages of planning and targeted to be completed by 2029-30.(E) In energy storage systems, 11,620 MW/69,720 MWh Pumped Storage Projects (PSPs) are under construction. Further, a total of 6,580 MW/39,480 MWh capacity of Pumped Storage Projects (PSPs) are concurred and yet to be taken up for construction. Currently, 9,653.94 MW/ 26,729.32 MWh Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) capacity are under construction and 19,797.65 MW/ 61,013.40 MWh BESS capacity are under tendering stage. 2. Transmission Planning: Inter and Intra-State Transmission System has been planned and implementation of the same is taken up in matching time frame of generation capacity addition. As per the National Electricity Plan, about 1,91,474 ckm of transmission lines and 1,274 GVA of transformation capacity is planned to be added (at 220 kV and above voltage level) during the ten- year period from 2022-23 to 2031-32. In addition to the above, the Ministry of Power has issued guidelines dated 14.06.2024, 21.03.2025 and 15.12.2025 regarding the payment of compensation for Right of Way (RoW) for transmission lines, wherein the land rate has been linked to the prevailing market rate. These guidelines address the key challenges of RoW arising from landowners demanding higher compensation than the rates determined by the State Government. 3. Promotion of Renewable Energy Generation: (i) 100% Inter State Transmission System (ISTS) charges have been waived for inter-state sale of solar and wind power for projects to be commissioned by 30th June 2025 (with waiver tapering off 25% annually till June 2028), for co-located BESS projects commissioned by June 2028, for Hydro PSP projects where construction work awarded by June 2028, for Green Hydrogen Projects commissioned till December 2030 and for offshore wind projects commissioned till December 2032. (ii) Standard Bidding Guidelines for tariff based competitive bidding process for procurement of Power from Grid Connected Solar, Wind, Wind-Solar Hybrid and Firm & Dispatchable RE (FDRE) projects have been issued. (iii) Renewable Energy Implementing Agencies (REIAs) are regularly inviting bids for procurement of RE power. (iv) Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) has been permitted up to 100 percent under the automatic route. (v) To augment transmission infrastructure needed for steep RE trajectory, transmission plan has been prepared till 2032. (vi) Laying of new intrastate transmission lines and creating new sub-station capacity has been supported under the Green Energy Corridor Scheme for evacuation of renewable power. (vii) Scheme for setting up of Solar Parks and Ultra Mega Solar Power projects is being implemented to provide land and transmission to RE developers for installation of RE projects at large scale. (viii) Schemes such as Pradhan Mantri Kisan Urja Suraksha evam Utthaan Mahabhiyan (PM- KUSUM), PM Surya Ghar Muft Bijli Yojana, National Programme on High Efficiency Solar PV Modules, New Solar Power Scheme (for Tribal and PVTG Habitations/Villages) under Pradhan Mantri Janjati Adivasi Nyaya Maha Abhiyan (PM JANMAN) and Dharti Aabha Janjatiya Gram Utkarsh Abhiyan (DA JGUA), National Green Hydrogen Mission, Viability Gap Funding (VGF) Scheme for Offshore Wind Energy Projects have been launched.(ix) To encourage RE consumption, Renewable Purchase Obligation (RPO) followed by Renewable Consumption Obligation (RCO) trajectory has been notified till 2029-30. The RCO which is applicable to all designated consumers under the Energy Conservation Act, 2001 will attract penalties on non-compliance. (x) “Strategy for Establishment of Offshore Wind Energy Projects” has been issued. (xi) Green Day Ahead Market (GDAM) and Green Term Ahead Market (GTAM) have been launched to facilitate sale of Renewable Energy Power through exchanges. (xii) Production Linked Incentive (PLI) scheme has been launched to achieve the objective of localization of supply chain for solar PV Modules. With the concerted efforts of Central and State Government, the average hours of supply in rural areas have increased from 12.5 hours in FY 14 to 22.6 hours in FY 25 and in urban areas the same has increased from 22.1 hours in FY 14 to 23.4 hours in FY 25 *******ANNEXURE ANNEXURE REFERRED IN REPLY TO PARTS (a) TO (d) OF UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 3514 ANSWERED IN THE RAJYA SABHA ON 23.03.2026 ************* The state- wise ‘Power Supply Position’ in terms of energy for last three financial years and the current financial year i.e. FY 2025-26 (up to January, 2026): ( Figures in MU ) State/ April, 2022 - March, 2023 April, 2023 - March, 2024 Energy Energy Energy not Energy Energy Energy not System / Requirement Supplied Supplied Requirement Supplied Supplied Region (MU) (MU) (MU) (%) (MU) (MU) (MU) (%) Chandigarh 1,788 1,788 0 0.0 1,789 1,789 0 0.0 Delhi 35,143 35,133 10 0.0 35,501 35,496 5 0.0 Haryana 61,451 60,945 506 0.8 63,983 63,636 348 0.5 Himachal 12,649 12,542 107 0.8 12,805 12,767 38 0.3 Pradesh Jammu & 19,639 19,322 317 1.6 20,040 19,763 277 1.4 Kashmir Punjab 69,522 69,220 302 0.4 69,533 69,528 5 0.0 Rajasthan 1,01,801 1,00,057 1,745 1.7 1,07,422 1,06,806 616 0.6 Uttar Pradesh 1,44,251 1,43,050 1,201 0.8 1,48,791 1,48,287 504 0.3 Uttarakhand 15,647 15,386 261 1.7 15,644 15,532 112 0.7 Northern 4,63,088 4,58,640 4,449 1.0 4,76,852 4,74,946 1,906 0.4 Region Chhattisgarh 37,446 37,374 72 0.2 39,930 39,872 58 0.1 Gujarat 1,39,043 1,38,999 44 0.0 1,45,768 1,45,740 28 0.0 Madhya 92,683 92,325 358 0.4 99,301 99,150 151 0.2 Pradesh Maharashtra 1,87,309 1,87,197 111 0.1 2,07,108 2,06,931 176 0.1 Dadra & Nagar Haveli 10,018 10,018 0 0.0 10,164 10,164 0 0.0 and Daman & Diu Goa 4,669 4,669 0 0.0 5,111 5,111 0 0.0 Western 4,77,393 4,76,808 586 0.1 5,17,714 5,17,301 413 0.1 Region Andhra 72,302 71,893 410 0.6 80,209 80,151 57 0.1 Pradesh Telangana 77,832 77,799 34 0.0 84,623 84,613 9 0.0 Karnataka 75,688 75,663 26 0.0 94,088 93,934 154 0.2 Kerala 27,747 27,726 21 0.1 30,943 30,938 5 0.0 Tamil Nadu 1,14,798 1,14,722 77 0.1 1,26,163 1,26,151 12 0.0 Puducherry 3,051 3,050 1 0.0 3,456 3,455 1 0.0 Lakshadweep 64 64 0 0.0 64 64 0 0.0 Southern 3,71,467 3,70,900 567 0.2 4,19,531 4,19,293 238 0.1 Region Bihar 39,545 38,762 783 2.0 41,514 40,918 596 1.4 DVC 26,339 26,330 9 0.0 26,560 26,552 8 0.0 Jharkhand 13,278 12,288 990 7.5 14,408 13,858 550 3.8 Odisha 42,631 42,584 47 0.1 41,358 41,333 25 0.1 West Bengal 60,348 60,274 74 0.1 67,576 67,490 86 0.1 Sikkim 587 587 0 0.0 544 543 0 0.0Andaman- 348 348 0 0.12914 386 374 12 3.2 Nicobar Eastern 1,82,791 1,80,888 1,903 1.0 1,92,013 1,90,747 1,266 0.7 Region Arunachal 915 892 24 2.6 1,014 1,014 0 0.0 Pradesh Assam 11,465 11,465 0 0.0 12,445 12,341 104 0.8 Manipur 1,014 1,014 0 0.0 1,023 1,008 15 1.5 Meghalaya 2,237 2,237 0 0.0 2,236 2,066 170 7.6 Mizoram 645 645 0 0.0 684 684 0 0.0 Nagaland 926 873 54 5.8 921 921 0 0.0 Tripura 1,547 1,547 0 0.0 1,691 1,691 0 0.0 North- Eastern 18,758 18,680 78 0.4 20,022 19,733 289 1.4 Region All India 15,13,497 15,05,914 7,583 0.5 16,26,132 16,22,020 4,112 0.3The state- wise ‘Power Supply Position’ in terms of energy for last three financial years and the current financial year i.e. FY 2025-26 (up to January, 2026) : ( Figures in MU) State/ April, 2024 - March, 2025 April, 2025 - January, 2026 Energy Energy Energy Energy Energy not Energy System / Requiremen Requiremen not Supplied Supplied Supplied t t Supplied ( (MU (% (MU Region (MU) (MU) (MU) (MU) % ) ) ) ) 0. Chandigarh 1,952 1,952 0 0.0 1,658 1,658 1 0 0. Delhi 38,255 38,243 12 0.0 33,809 33,801 8 0 0. Haryana 70,149 70,120 30 0.0 61,111 61,046 65 1 Himachal 0. 13,566 13,526 40 0.3 11,561 11,520 40 Pradesh 3 Jammu & 0. 20,374 20,283 90 0.4 16,840 16,824 16 Kashmir 1 0. Punjab 77,423 77,423 0 0.0 65,972 65,913 59 1 0. Rajasthan 1,13,833 1,13,529 304 0.3 93,062 93,062 0 0 Uttar 0. 1,65,090 1,64,786 304 0.2 1,41,475 1,41,449 26 Pradesh 0 0. Uttarakhand 16,770 16,727 43 0.3 14,081 14,027 53 4 Northern 0. 5,18,869 5,17,917 952 0.2 4,40,909 4,40,641 268 Region 1 0. Chhattisgarh 43,208 43,180 28 0.1 34,968 34,960 8 0 0. Gujarat 1,51,878 1,51,875 3 0.0 1,30,452 1,30,452 0 0 Madhya 0. 1,04,445 1,04,312 133 0.1 85,679 85,670 9 Pradesh 0 0. Maharashtra 2,01,816 2,01,757 59 0.0 1,66,392 1,66,383 9 0 Dadra & Nagar Haveli 0. 10,852 10,852 0 0.0 9,372 9,372 0 and Daman 0 & Diu 0. Goa 5,411 5,411 0 0.0 4,528 4,528 0 0 Western 0. 5,28,924 5,28,701 223 0.0 4,42,777 4,42,750 26 Region 0 Andhra 0. 79,028 79,025 3 0.0 66,329 66,323 6 Pradesh 0 0. Telangana 88,262 88,258 4 0.0 69,259 69,252 7 0 0. Karnataka 92,450 92,446 4 0.0 76,580 76,571 9 00. Kerala 31,624 31,616 8 0.0 25,558 25,556 3 0 0. Tamil Nadu 1,30,413 1,30,408 5 0.0 1,10,000 1,09,990 10 0 0. Puducherry 3,549 3,549 0 0.0 2,947 2,944 3 1 Lakshadwee 0. 68 68 0 0.0 60 60 0 p 0 Southern 0. 4,25,373 4,25,349 24 0.0 3,50,715 3,50,677 38 Region 0 0. Bihar 44,393 44,217 176 0.4 40,749 40,735 14 0 0. DVC 25,891 25,888 3 0.0 20,708 20,704 3 0 0. Jharkhand 15,203 15,126 77 0.5 13,005 13,000 5 0 0. Odisha 42,882 42,858 24 0.1 37,290 37,284 6 0 0. West Bengal 71,180 71,085 95 0.1 61,969 61,906 63 1 0. Sikkim 574 574 0 0.0 444 444 0 0 Andaman- 5. 425 413 12 2.9 354 336 18 Nicobar 2 Eastern 0. 2,00,180 1,99,806 374 0.2 1,74,215 1,74,124 91 Region 1 Arunachal 0. 1,050 1,050 0 0.0 1,007 1,007 0 Pradesh 0 0. Assam 12,843 12,837 6 0.0 11,875 11,875 1 0 0. Manipur 1,079 1,068 10 0.9 978 975 3 3 0. Meghalaya 2,046 2,046 0 0.0 1,741 1,741 0 0 0. Mizoram 709 709 0 0.0 629 629 0 0 0. Nagaland 938 938 0 0.0 849 849 0 0 0. Tripura 1,939 1,939 0 0.0 1,655 1,654 0 0 North- 0. Eastern 20,613 20,596 16 0.1 18,820 18,816 4 0 Region 16,92,36 14,27,00 0. All India 16,93,959 1,590 0.1 14,27,436 427 9 9 0 **************