**Executive Summary:**
The Ministry of Power addressed the status of rural electrification, initiatives for renewable energy promotion, and progress under the Revamped Distribution Sector Scheme (RDSS). All inhabited unelectrified census villages were electrified by April 28, 2018. The government continues to support states in grid electrification through RDSS, launched in July 2021, and is promoting renewable energy through various initiatives. Distribution infrastructure works worth Rs. 2.82 lakh Crore have been sanctioned under RDSS.
**Key Points / Main Content:**
* **Rural Electrification:**
* All inhabited unelectrified census villages were electrified by April 28, 2018, through schemes like DDUGJY and SAUBHAGYA.
* 18,374 villages were electrified during DDUGJY, and 2.86 crore households were electrified during SAUBHAGYA.
* Both DDUGJY and SAUBHAGYA closed on March 31, 2022.
* Grid electrification of left-out households is supported under the ongoing RDSS, which includes specific groups under PM JANMAN, DAJGUA, PMAJAY and VVP.
* Under RDSS, Rs. 6,487 Cr. has been sanctioned for the electrification of 13.59 lakh households and Rs. 50 Cr for off-grid solar based electrification of 9961 households as of June 30, 2025.
* **Renewable Energy Initiatives:**
* 50 GW of renewable energy power procurement bids by REIAs from FY 2023-24 to FY 2027-28.
* Waiver of ISTS charges for renewable energy projects.
* RPO and RCO compliance by designated consumers.
* A Project Development Cell has been established, and Standard Bidding Guidelines have been issued.
* Schemes to promote renewable energy include PMKUSUM, PM Surya Ghar Muft Bijli Yojana, National Programme on High Efficiency Solar PV Modules, and development of Solar Parks.
* "National Repowering and Life Extension Policy for Wind Power Projects, 2023" has been issued.
* A "Strategy for Establishments of Offshore Wind Energy Projects" outlines a bidding trajectory of 37 GW by 2030.
* Standard Labelling programs for solar photovoltaic modules and inverters have been launched.
* GTAM and GDAM have been launched for selling renewable energy through exchanges.
* **Revamped Distribution Sector Scheme (RDSS):**
* Distribution infrastructure works, including smart metering, worth Rs. 2.82 lakh Crore have been sanctioned.
* Works include loss reduction measures and smart metering to reduce technical and commercial losses.
* Fund release is contingent on States'/UTs' performance, including reduction in ATC losses.
* 30% of infrastructure works and 12% of smart metering works have been completed.
* ATC loss has reduced from 21.91% in FY21 to 16.12% in FY24.
**Impact Analysis:**
* **States/UTs:**
* *Impact:* Responsible for reporting electrification status and implementing schemes with central government support.
* *Action Required:* Achieve performance targets, including ATC loss reduction, to receive funding under RDSS.
* **Distribution Utilities:**
* *Impact:* To implement infrastructure upgrades and smart metering to reduce losses.
* *Action Required:* Execute sanctioned projects efficiently and improve performance to reduce ATC losses.
* **Renewable Energy Implementing Agencies (REIAs):**
* *Impact:* Involved in procuring renewable energy power.
* *Action Required:* Participate in renewable energy power procurement bids and develop renewable energy projects.
* **Consumers:**
* *Impact:* Improved power supply and access to renewable energy options.
* *Action Required:* Comply with Renewable Purchase Obligation (RPO) and Renewable Consumption Obligation (RCO), where applicable.
* **Households (Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups PVTG households identified under PM JANMAN, tribal households under DAJGUA, Scheduled Caste households under Pradhan Mantri Anusuchit Jaati Abhyuday Yojna PMAJAY and households in remote and border areas under Vibrant Village Program VVP):**
* *Impact:* Electrification of left-out households
* *Action Required:* Accept and utilise solar power scheme sanctioned in the region.
Key Entities Referenced
Deen Dayal Upadhyaya Gram Jyoti Yojana DDUGJY: A Government of India scheme aimed at rural electrification.
Pradhan Mantri Sahaj Bijli Har Ghar Yojana SAUBHAGYA: A Government of India scheme focused on providing electricity to all households.
Revamped Distribution Sector Scheme RDSS: A Government of India scheme aimed at improving power distribution infrastructure and reducing losses.
PM JANMAN Pradhan Mantri Janjati Adivasi Nyaya Maha Abhiyan: A Government of India initiative aimed at the development of Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups (PVTG).
PMKUSUM Pradhan Mantri Kisan Urja Suraksha Evam Uttan Abhiyaan: A Government of India scheme to promote the use of renewable energy in the agriculture sector.
PM Surya Ghar Muft Bijli Yojana: A Government of India scheme to promote solar energy adoption by providing free electricity.
National Repowering and Life Extension Policy for Wind Power Projects, 2023: A Government of India policy related to extending the life and improving the efficiency of wind power projects.
InterState Transmission System ISTS: Infrastructure for the transmission of electricity between states in India.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF POWER
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.3079
ANSWERED ON 07.08.2025
STATUS OF RURAL ELECTRIFICATION
3079. SMT. GENIBEN NAGAJI THAKOR:
Will the Minister of POWER
be pleased to state:
(a) whether the Government has achieved 100% electrification of villages and
households in the country and if so, the details thereof;
(b) if not, the current status of rural electrification and the measures being
taken to address the gaps;
(c) the initiatives undertaken to promote renewable energy sources like solar
and wind under various Central schemes; and
(d) the progress made under the Revamped Distribution Sector Scheme
(RDSS) for improving power distribution infrastructure and reducing losses?
A N S W E R
THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF POWER
(SHRI SHRIPAD NAIK)
(a) & (b): Government of India has supplemented the efforts of the States
through schemes like Deen Dayal Upadhyaya Gram Jyoti Yojana (DDUGJY),
Integrated Power Development Scheme (IPDS), Pradhan Mantri Sahaj Bijli Har
Ghar Yojana (SAUBHAGYA) etc., to help them achieve the objective of providing
quality and reliable power supply to all households. As reported by the States,
all the inhabited un-electrified census villages in the country were electrified by
28th April, 2018. A total of 18,374 villages were electrified during DDUGJY. Under
DDUGJY and thereafter during SAUBHAGYA, as reported by States,
electrification of all willing households was completed. A total of 2.86 crore
households were electrified during SAUBHAGYA. Both the schemes stand closed
as on 31.03.2022.
Government of India is further supporting States for grid electrification of
left-out households, under the ongoing scheme of Revamped Distribution Sector
Scheme (RDSS), launched in July, 2021. It includes on-grid electrification of
Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Group (PVTG) households identified under PM-
JANMAN (Pradhan Mantri Janjati Adivasi Nyaya Maha Abhiyan), tribal
households under DA-JGUA (Dharti Aaba Janjatiya Gram Utkarsh Abhiyan),
Scheduled Caste households under Pradhan Mantri Anusuchit Jaati Abhyuday
Yojna (PM-AJAY) and households in remote and border areas under Vibrant
Village Program (VVP), wherever found feasible. Till date, works amounting to
Rs. 6,487 Cr. have been sanctioned for electrification of 13.59 lakh households
under RDSS. In addition, under new solar power scheme, works amounting to
Rs. 50 Cr for off-grid solar based electrification have been sanctioned for 9961
households as on 30th June. 2025.
……….2.- 2 -
(c): Following key initiatives have been taken by Government of India for
renewable energy:
i. 50 GW/annum renewable energy power procurement bids by Renewable
Energy Implementing Agencies (REIAs) like SECI, NHPC and NTPC from FY
2023-24 to FY 2027-28.
ii. Waiving of Inter-State Transmission System (ISTS) charges for various
renewable energy projects.
iii. Renewable Purchase Obligation (RPO) and Renewable Consumption
Obligation (RCO) compliance by designated consumers.
iv. A Project Development Cell has been established to attract investments
and Standard Bidding Guidelines have been issued for various grid-
connected renewable energy projects.
v. Schemes to promote renewable energy like PM-KUSUM (Pradhan Mantri
Kisan Urja Suraksha Evam Uttan Abhiyaan), PM Surya Ghar Muft Bijli
Yojana, National Programme on High Efficiency Solar PV Modules,
development of Solar Parks and Ultra Mega Solar Power projects etc.
vi. "National Repowering and Life Extension Policy for Wind Power Projects,
2023" has been issued.
vii. For offshore wind energy, a "Strategy for Establishments of Offshore Wind
Energy Projects" outlines a bidding trajectory of 37 GW by 2030.
viii. Standard & Labelling (S&L) programs for solar photovoltaic modules and
inverters have been launched.
ix. The Green Term Ahead Market (GTAM) and Green Day Ahead Market
(GDAM) have been launched for selling renewable energy power through
exchanges.
(d) : Under RDSS, distribution infrastructure works, including smart metering
works, worth Rs. 2.82 lakh Crore have been sanctioned. This includes loss
reduction works like upgradation/augmentation of sub-stations and distribution
transformers, upgrading of conductors, segregation of mixed-load feeders, IT/OT
works etc. and smart metering works which would help reduce the technical and
commercial losses. Further, release of funds under the scheme is contingent on
performance of States/ UTs on various other parameters including the reduction
in AT&C (Aggregate Technical and Commercial) losses. Till date ~30% of the
sanctioned infrastructure works and ~12% of the sanctioned smart metering
works have been completed.
With collective effort of Centre & States/ UTs and the reform measures
taken under RDSS and various other schemes, the AT&C loss of distribution
utilities has reduced from 21.91% in FY21 to 16.12% in FY24.
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