Maiden Edition of Bharat Electricity Summit Gets Underway
The maiden edition of ‘Bharat Electricity Summit’, a four-day global conference-cum-exhibition for the power sector, got going on 19 March, 2026 at the Yashobhoomi Convention Center in Delhi. The conference was inaugurated by the Union Minister for Power and Housing & Urban Affairs Manohar Lal. Also present were Pralhad Joshi, Minister of New and Renewable Energy and Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution, Shripad Naik, Minister of State for Power and New & Renewable Energy, Pankaj Agarwal, Secretary, Ministry of Power, and Ghanshyam Prasad, Chairperson, Central Electricity Authority (CEA).
In his keynote address, Mr Manohar Lal talked of India’s remarkable progress with a 72% expansion in transmission infrastructure to over 5 lakh circuit kilometers, meeting 250 GW peak demand in 2024-25 and being fully prepared to meet peak demand of 270 GW and beyond, while positioning itself as a future global exporter of affordable energy as the backbone of India’s vision to become a developed nation by 2047. He also outlined initiatives such as cross-border energy connectivity, undersea transmission networks. He also hailed India’s achievements such as achieving its Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) target of 50% cumulative non-fossil electric capacity nearly five years ahead of schedule, the SHANTI Act 2025, PM Surya Ghar Muft Bijli Yojana, transition from power deficit to a power surplus nation, exponential growth in solar energy capacity from 2.8 GW solar capacity to over 143 GW today.
He added, “Today is not just another day, it is a day of resolve for India’s energy transformation. From relying on conventional resources to now returning to the power of the sun, we are completing a full circle. Energy is at the heart of development, and as India moves towards becoming a developed nation by 2047, our focus is on innovation, affordability, and global collaboration. This ‘Conference of Light’ is not just an event, but a movement to take India’s energy leadership to the world.”
Minister for Renewable Energy Pralhad Joshi said that renewable energy represented the only sustainable long-term pathway, while acknowledging thermal energy as the backbone of India’s energy system. He said the transition from non-renewable to renewable energy needed a banalced transition driven by scale, speed and skill.
Minister of State for Power and Renewable Energy Shripad Naik highlighted India’s shift towards participative energy economy. He informed that India’s solar capacity had grown from 2.8 GW to 143 GW since 2014, with over 32 lakh households and 23 lakh farmers contributing to clean energy generation.
Adding to this, Shri Pankaj Agarwal, Secretary, Ministry of Power, stated that India now operates one of the world’s largest synchronised grids, supported by advanced balancing systems, large-scale smart meter deployment and strong policy frameworks.
He further added, “India’s power sector transformation over the past decade offers a strong global model, driven by policy clarity, scale, and innovation. From near-zero peak deficits to one of the world’s largest synchronized grids, and from falling solar tariffs to smart infrastructure rollout, we are building a system that is efficient, reliable, and investment-ready. The next phase will be defined by technology, data, and global partnerships.”
During the inaugural session, the Ministry of Power released key strategic reports including the National Resource Adequacy Plan, outlining a comprehensive roadmap to meet India’s growing electricity demand through a balanced energy mix, and the Transmission Plan for Integration of over 900 GW Non-Fossil Fuel Capacity by 2035-36. The transmission blueprint envisages the development of 1,37,500 circuit kilometers of transmission lines and 8,27,600 MVA substation capacity, with an estimated investment of ₹7.93 lakh crore, ensuring seamless evacuation of renewable energy and strengthening grid resilience.
