**Summary:**
Lok Sabha Starred Question No. 332, addressed to the Minister of Rural Development on August 12, 2025, concerns the Gram Urja Swaraj Programme. The question sought information on several aspects of the program, including the status of rural electrification via solar and wind energy, the number of villages achieving energy self-sufficiency through renewables, incentives for adopting solar rooftops and biogas, collaborations with NGOs or cooperatives, budgetary allocations for the initiative over the past three financial years, plans to make renewable energy affordable for poor rural households, and progress on establishing solar mini-grids and community-based power plants in off-grid villages.
In response, the Minister of Rural Development, Shri Shivraj Singh Chouhan, stated that the subject matter of the question does not fall under the purview of the Ministry of Rural Development.
Key Entities Referenced
Gram Urja Swaraj Programme: A Government of India initiative under the Ministry of Rural Development focused on achieving energy self-sufficiency in rural areas through renewable energy sources.
Ministry of Rural Development: The Indian government ministry responsible for rural development programs, including Gram Urja Swaraj.
Shri Manickam Tagore B: Member of Parliament who raised a starred question regarding the Gram Urja Swaraj Programme.
Shri Suresh Kumar Shetkar: Member of Parliament who raised a starred question regarding the Gram Urja Swaraj Programme.
Shri Shivraj Singh Chouhan: Minister of Rural Development, responsible for answering the parliamentary question about the Gram Urja Swaraj Programme.
solar rooftops: A method of generating electricity through solar panels installed on the rooftops.
biogas systems: A renewable energy technology that produces biogas from organic matter.
renewable energy: Energy derived from natural processes that are replenished at a higher rate than they are consumed.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF RURAL DEVELOPMENT
DEPARTMENT OF RURAL DEVELOPMENT
LOK SABHA
STARRED QUESTION NO. 332
ANSWERED ON 12/08/2025
GRAM URJA SWARAJ PROGRAMME
*332. Shri Manickam Tagore B:
Shri Suresh Kumar Shetkar:
Will the Minister of RURAL DEVELOPMENT be pleased to state:
(a) the present status of rural electrification using solar and wind
energy under the Gram Urja Swaraj programme across States;
(b) the total number of villages achieved energy self-sufficiency
through renewable sources since the launch of Gram Urja
Swaraj;
(c) the incentives offered to panchayats and rural households to
adopt solar rooftops and biogas systems;
(d) whether the Government collaborated with NGOs or
cooperatives to implement decentralized renewable energy
projects in rural areas, if so, the details thereof;
(e) the details of budgetary allocation for the Gram Urja Swaraj
initiative during the last three financial years;
(f) the manner in which the Government plan to make renewable
energy affordable and accessible for poor rural households; and
(g) the details of progress on setting up solar mini-grids and
community-based power plants in off-grid villages?
ANSWER
MINISTER OF RURAL DEVELOPMENT
(SHRI SHIVRAJ SINGH CHOUHAN)
(a) to (g): The question does not pertain to the Ministry of Rural
Development.
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