India marked National Energy Conservation Day on 14 December by highlighting major progress in energy efficiency, renewable energy expansion and power-system reliability, reinforcing conservation as a key pillar of the country’s sustainable growth strategy.
Energy remains central to India’s economic and social development, powering homes, industries, transport and digital services. As demand rises with economic growth, the focus has shifted from only expanding supply to using energy more efficiently and avoiding wastage through conservation.
Observed since 1991, National Energy Conservation Day promotes awareness about efficient energy use across sectors. Following the Energy Conservation Act, 2001, the Bureau of Energy Efficiency (BEE) has led national efforts through awareness campaigns, school competitions and awards, making efficiency a mainstream policy priority.
India is now among the world’s top energy consumers, with electricity generation rising from 1,739.09 billion units in 2023–24 to 1,829.69 billion units in 2024–25, a growth of 5.21 per cent. For 2025–26, the generation target stands at 2,000.4 billion units. Power reliability has improved significantly, with energy shortages dropping to just 0.1 per cent in June 2025, even as peak demand reached 241 GW.
The country’s energy mix is rapidly becoming cleaner. As of October 2025, India’s installed power capacity reached 505 GW, with more than 259 GW coming from non-fossil sources such as solar, wind, hydro and nuclear power. This means over 50 per cent of installed capacity is now from non-fossil sources, marking a major milestone in the energy transition.
At the household level, the Pradhan Mantri Surya Ghar Muft Bijli Yojana, launched in 2024, has added nearly 7 GW of rooftop solar capacity and connected about 23.9 lakh homes by December 2025. The scheme aims to cover one crore households and provide up to 300 units of free electricity every month.
Industrial energy efficiency has entered a new phase with the shift from the Perform, Achieve and Trade (PAT) scheme to the Carbon Credit Trading Scheme (CCTS). Under CCTS, energy-intensive sectors are assigned emission-intensity targets, and industries that exceed them earn tradable carbon credit certificates, directly linking efficiency with carbon reduction.
Consumer-focused efficiency programmes continue to deliver large savings. The Standards and Labelling programme now covers 28 appliance categories, helping consumers choose efficient products. The UJALA LED scheme has distributed 36.87 crore LED bulbs nationwide, saving nearly 47,883 million units of electricity annually, reducing peak demand and cutting millions of tonnes of CO₂ emissions.
Power-sector reforms and digital tools are strengthening conservation efforts. Under the Revamped Distribution Sector Scheme, 4.76 crore smart meters have been installed, while platforms such as the Urja Dakshata Information Tool improve monitoring, compliance and transparency in energy-efficiency programmes.
Energy efficiency in buildings is being promoted through the Energy Conservation Building Code, the Energy Conservation and Sustainable Building Code and Eco Niwas Samhita. These codes reduce energy demand in commercial and residential buildings through better design, materials and insulation.
Public participation remains a key focus. The National Energy Conservation Awards and National Energy Efficiency Innovation Awards recognise outstanding achievements, while the nationwide painting competition on energy conservation engages students and builds early awareness.
India’s efficiency and clean-energy efforts are gaining global recognition. The country joined the International Energy Efficiency Hub in 2024 and continues to share successful models such as UJALA internationally. Through platforms like the International Solar Alliance and the Global Biofuels Alliance, India is shaping global cooperation on affordable and sustainable energy.
At the 8th International Solar Alliance Assembly in 2025, India helped launch new initiatives on solar recycling, cross-border grids and capacity building. According to IRENA’s 2025 statistics, India ranks third globally in solar energy, fourth in wind energy and fourth in total renewable capacity.
These achievements support India’s climate commitments, including reducing emissions intensity by 45 per cent by 2030 and achieving net-zero emissions by 2070. As National Energy Conservation Day is observed, the emphasis remains on collective responsibility where government, industry and citizens work together to conserve energy and secure a sustainable future aligned with the vision of Viksit Bharat.
(with inputs from PIB)
