Executive Summary:
This document provides an update on operational power projects in India, focusing on rural electrification, particularly in Rajasthan and the Barmer-Jaisalmer Lok Sabha Constituency. It details the progress made under various schemes like DDUGJY, SAUBHAGYA, and RDSS, including the number of electrified villages and households. The report also addresses the provision of electricity connections to BPL families and the steps taken to ensure reliable electricity supply in remote areas. The last survey to identify households for electrification was conducted in FY 2024-25.
Key Points / Main Content:
Power Availability and Infrastructure:
• India has adequate power availability with an installed generation capacity of 484.81 GW.
• The country has 4.95 lakh circuit kilometers (ckm) of transmission lines (220KV and above) with a transformation capacity of 13.59 lakh MVA.
Rural Electrification in Rajasthan:
• Under DDUGJY, 427 villages were electrified, and 1,49,854 BPL households in Rajasthan (including Barmer-Jaisalmer) were provided with electricity connections.
• During the SAUBHAGYA period, 21,27,728 households were electrified in Rajasthan (including Barmer-Jaisalmer).
• All willing households in inhabited unelectrified census villages were electrified under DDUGJY and SAUBHAGYA.
Ongoing Electrification Efforts:
• The Government of India supports the State for grid electrification of households left out during SAUBHAGYA under the Revamped Distribution Sector Scheme (RDSS).
• This includes electrification of Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Group (PVTG) households under PMJANMAN and tribal households under DAJGUA.
• Works amounting to Rs 1,764 Cr have been sanctioned for electrification of 4,39,177 households in Rajasthan under RDSS, with 95,986 households electrified to date.
Support for BPL Families:
• Providing subsidy support to consumers falls under the purview of the State Government.
• The State reported that the last survey to identify households for electrification was conducted in FY 2024-25.
Electrification in Barmer, Jaisalmer, and Balotra Districts:
• Details of pending households to be electrified in Barmer, Jaisalmer, and Balotra are:
o Barmer: 3,593 habitations, 71,864 households, sanctioned cost of Rs 186.37 Cr.
o Balotra: 1,219 habitations, 18,999 households, sanctioned cost of Rs 132.57 Cr.
o Jaisalmer: 5,076 habitations, 34,455 households, sanctioned cost of Rs 141.03 Cr.
Quality and Reliability of Electricity Supply:
• As per Rule 10 of the Electricity Rights of Consumers Rules, 2020, distribution licensees shall supply 24x7 power to all consumers, with possible exceptions for some categories like agriculture as specified by the Commission.
• The Government of India has supported States in strengthening distribution infrastructure to provide quality and reliable power to all households.
• Norms for electrification under RDSS were relaxed for remote, hilly, and forest areas, and the cost ceiling was enhanced.
• Works amounting to Rs. 6,486 Cr. have been sanctioned for the electrification of 13.59 lakh households under RDSS, including those in remote areas.
Impact Analysis:
State Governments:
Impact: Responsible for the supply and distribution of electricity to consumers, including those in rural areas, and for providing subsidies to various categories of consumers.
Action Required: Continue implementing and monitoring electrification projects under schemes like DDUGJY, SAUBHAGYA, and RDSS; identify and address pending household electrification needs; maintain dynamic data on pending applications; and ensure 24x7 power supply as per the Electricity Rights of Consumers Rules, 2020.
Power Distribution Utilities:
Impact: Responsible for the distribution of electricity and the maintenance of infrastructure.
Action Required: Strengthen distribution infrastructure to ensure quality and reliable power supply, address pending household electrification needs, and maintain dynamic data on pending applications.
Consumers (Including Rural Households and BPL Families):
Impact: Benefit from improved electricity access and infrastructure, with a focus on providing connections to unelectrified households and BPL families.
Action Required: Engage with distribution utilities for new connections and report any issues related to the quality and reliability of electricity supply.
Government of India:
Impact: Provides financial and technical support to States for rural electrification and infrastructure development.
Action Required: Continue supporting States through schemes like RDSS, monitor progress, and ensure adherence to the Electricity Rights of Consumers Rules, 2020.
Key Entities Referenced
Ministry of Power: The Indian government ministry responsible for power generation, transmission, and distribution.
SHRI UMMEDA RAM BENIWAL: Member of Parliament who raised the question about operational power projects.
SHRI SHRIPAD NAIK: The Minister of State in the Ministry of Power who provided the answer.
Rajasthan: A state in India for which data on rural electrification is provided, including the BarmerJaisalmer Lok Sabha Constituency.
Barmer: A district in Rajasthan.
Jaisalmer: A district in Rajasthan.
Balotra: A district in Rajasthan.
Revamped Distribution Sector Scheme (RDSS): An ongoing scheme by the Government of India to support States in grid electrification of households.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF POWER
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.1957
ANSWERED ON 31.07.2025
OPERATIONAL POWER PROJECTS
†1957. SHRI UMMEDA RAM BENIWAL:
Will the Minister of POWER
be pleased to state:
(a) the number, objectives and key features of the currently operational power
projects in the country and their contribution in rural electrification;
(b) the present status of electricity coverage during the last ten years in the State of
Rajasthan including Barmer-Jaisalmer Lok Sabha Constituency along with the number of
electrified villages and households;
(c) the number of electricity connections provided to BPL and other families
thereunder;
(d) whether there is any special provision to provide free or subsidised electricity
connections to BPL and other families and if so, the details thereof;
(e) the time of the last survey conducted for deprived households and the number of
pending applications in the districts of Barmer, Jaisalmer and Balotra;
(f) whether any budget has been allocated for household connections in these
districts and if so, the details thereof and the proposed hamlets, district-wise; and
(g) the steps being taken to ensure the quality and reliability of electricity supply in
remote areas?
A N S W E R
THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF POWER
(SHRI SHRIPAD NAIK)
(a) : Presently, there is adequate availability of power in the country. The installed
generation capacity in the country is 484.81 GW and 4.95 lakh circuit kilometer (ckm) of
transmission lines (220KV and above) with transformation capacity of 13.59 lakh MVA has
been operational.
Electricity being a concurrent subject, the supply and distribution of electricity to
the consumers including rural areas is the responsibility of respective State Government/
power distribution utility.However, Government of India (GoI) has supplemented the
efforts of the States to help them strengthen power distribution infrastructure and
achieve rural electrification.
………2.- 2 -
(b) & (c) : Under DDUGJY, a total of 427 villages were electrified and electricity
connections were provided to 1,49,854 nos. of Below Poverty Line (BPL) households in
the State of Rajasthan (including Barmer-Jaisalmer Lok Sabha Constituency). Further,
a total of 21,27,728 households were electrified during SAUBHAGYA period in the State
of Rajasthan (including Barmer-Jaisalmer Lok Sabha Constituency). As reported by the
State, all the inhabited un-electrified census villages were electrified under DDUGJY and
all willing households were electrified during SAUBHAGYA.
Government of India is further supporting the State for grid electrification of
households left-out during SAUBHAGYA, under the ongoing scheme of Revamped
Distribution Sector Scheme (RDSS). This includes electrification of all Particularly
Vulnerable Tribal Group (PVTG) households identified under PM-JANMAN (Pradhan
Mantri Janjati Adivasi Nyaya Maha Abhiyan) and all tribal households identified under
DA-JGUA (Dharti Aaba Janjatiya Gram Utkarsh Abhiyan). Under the scheme, works
amounting to Rs 1,764 Cr have been sanctioned for electrification of 4,39,177
households for the State of Rajasthan of which 95,986 households have been electrified
till date.
(d) & (e) : Providing subsidy support to various categories of consumers comes within
the purview of State Government. As reported by the State, the last survey to identify
balance household to be electrified was conducted in FY 2024-25. Further, the list of
pending applications is a dynamic data which is maintained by the respective
distribution utilities.
(f) : The details of pending households identified by the State to be electrified in the
districts of Barmer, Jaisalmer and Balotra are as below:
Proposed Sanctioned Sanctioned cost
SN District
habitations (nos) households (Rs Cr)
1 Barmer 3593 71,864 186.37
2 Balotra 1219 18,999 132.57
3 Jaisalmer 5076 34,455 141.03
(g) : As per Rule (10) of the Electricity (Rights of Consumers) Rules, 2020, the
distribution licensee shall supply 24x7 power to all consumers. However, the Commission
may specify lower hours of supply for some categories of consumers like agriculture. The
Rules are applicable for all States and for all areas including urban and rural areas.
As reported in part (a) above, GoI has supported States to help them strengthen
distribution infrastructure works so as to achieve the objective of providing quality and
reliable supply of power to all households. Further, since most of the left-out households
are in remote, hilly and forest areas, the norms for electrification under RDSS were
relaxed and the ceiling limit for cost of electrification has been enhanced. Grid based
electrification works have been sanctioned under RDSS wherever found feasible as per
the revised norms. Till date, works amounting to Rs. 6,486 Cr. have been sanctioned for
electrification of 13.59 lakh households under RDSS including households located in
remote areas.
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