8. Bharat Electricity Summit 2026: Powering the Vision of Viksit Bharat 2047

At the Bharat Electricity Summit 2026, Prime Minister Narendra Modi issued a global call to \'Make, Invest, Innovate, and Scale\' within India’s power sector. Highlighting India’s status as the world’s fastest-growing major economy, the Prime Minister emphasized that the nation is at a defining juncture in its energy transition, moving toward a sustainable, resilient, and investor-friendly power ecosystem to achieve the goal of a developed India by 2047. • Renewable Energy Milestone: India has successfully surpassed its target of 50% non-fossil fuel installed capacity ahead of schedule, reinforcing a clear roadmap to achieve 500GW of renewable energy capacity by 2030. • Nuclear Energy Frontiers: The enactment of the SHANTI Act 2025 (Strategic Harnessing of Atomic National Technological Initiatives) has opened new frontiers for private participation and global investment in the nuclear power segment. • Decentralized Solar Power: The PM Surya Ghar: Muft Bijli Yojana is revolutionizing the sector by promoting distributed generation (rooftop solar), thereby reducing the burden on the central grid and empowering sustainable consumption at the household level. • Global Connectivity: India continues to lead the \'One Sun, One World, One Grid\' (OSOWOG) initiative, aiming to create a transnational electricity grid to share solar energy across different time zones. • Efficiency and Distribution Reforms: Significant progress was noted in the 2024-25 fiscal year regarding the reduction of Aggregate Technical and Commercial (AT&C) losses, improving the financial health of Distribution Companies (DISCOMs) through bold policy reforms. • Supply Chain Resilience: Beyond generation, India is positioning itself as a global hub for battery storage manufacturing, green hydrogen, and the creation of \'Green Jobs\' to support a circular energy economy. Key Definitions • Viksit Bharat 2047: The government’s vision to transform India into a developed nation by the 100th anniversary of its independence, with energy security as a core pillar. • AT&C Losses: Aggregate Technical and Commercial loss is the sum of technical loss (energy dissipated in the conductors), commercial loss (theft or billing errors), and shortage in revenue collection. • Distributed Generation: A system where electricity is generated from many small energy sources (like residential solar panels) near the point of use, rather than at centralized power plants. • Non-Fossil Fuel Capacity: Installed electricity generation capacity derived from renewable sources (Solar, Wind, Hydro, Biomass) and Nuclear energy. Constitutional & Legal Provisions • Entry 38, List III (Concurrent List): Electricity is a concurrent subject, allowing both the Union and State governments to legislate. This necessitates cooperative federalism for effective distribution reforms. • Electricity Act, 2003: The primary legal framework governing the generation, transmission, distribution, and trading of electricity in India, providing the basis for delicensing generation and promoting competition. • SHANTI Act, 2025: A recent landmark legislation (Strategic Harnessing of Atomic National Technological Initiatives) designed to modernize nuclear energy governance and facilitate expanded energy output through strategic partnerships. • Article 48A (DPSP): Directs the State to protect and improve the environment, providing a constitutional mandate for the transition toward green and sustainable energy. Additional Strategic Keypoints • Energy Storage Systems (ESS): The focus is shifting toward Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS) and Pumped Hydro Projects to manage the intermittent nature of solar and wind energy. • Green Hydrogen Mission: India aims to become a global exporter of Green Hydrogen, leveraging its low-cost renewable power to decarbonize hard-to-abate sectors like steel and refineries. • International Solar Alliance (ISA): Headquartered in India, this treaty-based organization is the primary vehicle for India’s global leadership in solar advocacy and technology transfer. Conclusion The Bharat Electricity Summit 2026 underscores India\'s transition from a power-deficit nation to a global leader in renewable energy. By aligning legislative reforms like the SHANTI Act with grassroots initiatives like PM Surya Ghar, India is creating a dual-track strategy: large-scale infrastructure for industrial growth and decentralized solutions for energy equity. The invitation to global investors reflects India\'s confidence in its regulatory stability and its potential to lead the global green energy supply chain. UPSC Relevance • GS Paper II: Government policies and interventions for development; Statutory, regulatory, and various quasi-judicial bodies. • GS Paper III: Infrastructure (Energy); Economic Development; Conservation, environmental pollution, and degradation. • Prelims: Targets under COP26/COP28 (Panchamrit), details of PM Surya Ghar Yojana, OSOWOG, and the technicalities of the SHANTI Act 2025.