India’s Solar Boom: From Modest Beginnings to a Renewable Power Surge
Pic Credit: Pexel
India’s renewable energy journey is gathering remarkable pace, with solar manufacturing and installation witnessing a dramatic transformation over the past decade.
Speaking in the Lok Sabha, Union Minister for New and Renewable Energy Pralhad Joshi highlighted the scale of this shift. He noted that India’s solar module manufacturing capacity has soared from a modest 3 GW during the UPA years to an impressive 172 GW today.
The growth story extends beyond modules. Solar cell manufacturing capacity, which was virtually non-existent earlier, has now reached 27 GW. Meanwhile, the country’s overall solar power generation capacity has expanded sharply—from just 2.8 GW to 144 GW—reflecting a broader push toward clean energy adoption.
Joshi also pointed to structural changes supporting this growth. Under the government’s Production Linked Incentive (PLI) scheme, integrated manufacturing projects covering ingots, wafers, and cells are being rolled out nationwide. According to him, such a comprehensive manufacturing ecosystem was previously missing.
India’s renewable momentum is not limited to solar alone. The wind energy sector has also grown steadily, with installed capacity increasing from 21 GW in earlier years to 55 GW at present.
At the grassroots level, the shift is becoming increasingly visible. Under the Pradhan Mantri Surya Ghar Muft Bijli Yojana, nearly 10,000 rooftop solar installations are being completed every day. States like Maharashtra are emerging as strong performers in this nationwide push.
The minister added that around 40 lakh rooftop solar systems have been installed during the tenure of Prime Minister Narendra Modi—a figure that reflects both policy support and growing public participation.
Taken together, these developments paint a picture of a country rapidly scaling up its renewable energy capabilities—not just through policy announcements, but through visible, on-the-ground change.
