Content
- India Achieves Historic Milestone in Power Sector (PIB, 29 Oct 2025)
- Nationwide Launch of ‘Model Youth Gram Sabha (MYGS)’ Initiative
India Achieves Historic Milestone in Power Sector
Why in News?
- India’s total installed electricity capacity surpassed 500 GW as of 30 September 2025.
- Renewable generation exceeded 50% of national electricity demand on 29 July 2025 — a first in Indian history.
Relevance
- GS-2 (Governance & Policy): Energy governance, inter-ministerial coordination (MNRE & MoP), fulfillment of COP26 Panchamrit targets, and regulatory framework for clean energy transition.
- GS-3 (Energy & Environment): Renewable energy expansion, energy mix diversification, climate change mitigation, emission intensity reduction, and green job creation under Atmanirbhar Bharat.
Installed Capacity Milestone
- Total Installed Capacity: 500.89 GW (as of 30 Sept 2025)
- Break-up:
- Non-fossil sources: 256.09 GW (≈51%)
- Fossil-based sources: 244.80 GW (≈49%)
| Source | Installed Capacity (GW) | Share (%) |
| Solar | 127.33 | 25.4 |
| Wind | 53.12 | 10.6 |
| Hydro | 46.0* | 9.2 |
| Nuclear | 9.64* | 1.9 |
| Fossil Fuels (Coal, Gas, Lignite, Diesel) | 244.80 | 48.9 |
| Total | 500.89 | 100 |
*approximate based on MNRE data.
Record Renewable Generation (29 July 2025)
- Peak electricity demand: 203 GW
- Renewable share in generation: 51.5% (Highest ever)
- Solar: 44.50 GW
- Wind: 29.89 GW
- Hydro: 30.29 GW
- Significance: For the first time, more than half of India’s real-time power came from green sources in a single day.
Capacity Addition Trend (FY 2025–26: April–Sept 2025)
- Non-fossil capacity added: 28 GW
- Fossil capacity added: 5.1 GW
- Reflects accelerated clean energy transition and diversification away from coal-heavy dependence.
Achievement of COP26 Target (Panchamrit)
- Target: 50% of installed electric capacity from non-fossil fuel sources by 2030.
- Status: Achieved five years ahead of schedule (2025).
- Confirms India’s leadership in clean energy transition and commitment to climate goals.
Significance & Implications
- Energy Security: Diversifies energy mix; reduces import dependence.
- Climate Leadership: Strengthens India’s credibility under Paris Agreement & COP pledges.
- Employment: Creates large-scale jobs in solar module manufacturing, installation, O&M, and green hydrogen value chains.
- Economic Resilience: Attracts global green investment; supports “Make in India” and “Atmanirbhar Bharat.”
- Grid Stability: Demonstrates India’s success in integrating large renewable capacity while maintaining frequency stability (49.90–50.05 Hz).
- Decentralized Power Growth: Boosts rural mini-grids and rooftop solar adoption.
Policy & Institutional Drivers
- National Electricity Plan (NEP) 2023 – guided capacity expansion.
- Green Energy Corridor Projects – enhanced renewable evacuation capacity.
- Production Linked Incentive (PLI) – for high-efficiency solar PV modules.
- Renewable Energy Certificates (REC) and Green Open Access Rules (2022) – boosted private participation.
- Hydrogen Mission & Offshore Wind Policy (2023) – expanded non-solar diversification.
Global Context
- India now ranks 3rd globally in installed renewable capacity (after China and the USA).
- Among the fastest-growing large economies to cross 50% non-fossil share in installed power.
- Contributes significantly to global net-zero efforts despite per capita emissions ≈1.9 tCO₂, below world average (≈4.7 tCO₂).
The Road Ahead
- Target by 2030:
- 500 GW non-fossil capacity.
- Reduce total emissions intensity by 45% from 2005 levels.
- Key Focus Areas:
- Green hydrogen commercialization.
- Battery energy storage systems (BESS).
- Smart grids and flexible generation.
- Offshore wind and pumped hydro.
- EV–renewable integration.
In Essence:
India’s power sector crossing 500 GW total capacity and achieving 51% renewable generation marks a strategic inflection point — signaling a clean, reliable, and future-ready energy ecosystem that meets developmental needs while aligning with global climate commitments.
Nationwide Launch of ‘Model Youth Gram Sabha (MYGS)’ Initiative
Why in News ?
- The Ministry of Panchayati Raj, in collaboration with the Ministry of Education and Ministry of Tribal Affairs, launched the first-of-its-kind “Model Youth Gram Sabha (MYGS)” initiative on 30 October 2025 in New Delhi.
- Marks a major step toward integrating youth civic education with grassroots democratic participation.
Relevance
- GS-2 (Governance & Polity): Strengthening Panchayati Raj Institutions, participatory democracy, Janbhagidari, and local governance reforms.
- GS-1 (Society): Civic awareness, youth engagement in democratic processes, and fostering inclusive citizenship values.
- GS-4 (Ethics & Values): Ethical leadership, responsibility, and transparency through experiential democratic learning aligned with NEP 2020.
Core Objective
- To institutionalize youth participation in local governance by engaging students in simulated Gram Sabha sessions.
- To cultivate democratic values, leadership, and civic responsibility among students — the future stakeholders of Viksit Bharat @2047.
Institutional Collaboration
- Lead Ministry: Ministry of Panchayati Raj (MoPR)
- Partner Ministries:
- Ministry of Education (Department of School Education & Literacy)
- Ministry of Tribal Affairs
- Supported by: State Panchayati Raj Departments, JNVs, EMRSs, and State Government Schools.
Implementation Scale
- Rollout across 1,000+ schools nationwide including:
- Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalayas (JNVs)
- Eklavya Model Residential Schools (EMRSs)
- State Government Schools
- Participants: Students, teachers, elected PRI members, and 650+ delegates from Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, and Haryana in the inaugural event.
Key Launch Components
- Training Module on Model Youth Gram Sabha – capacity-building tool for teachers and facilitators.
- MYGS Portal – a digital platform for:
- Conducting simulated Gram Sabha activities.
- Tracking participation and learning outcomes.
- Sharing best practices and success stories.
Conceptual Framework
- Model Youth Gram Sabha (MYGS) = an experiential civic-learning model simulating real Gram Sabha functioning.
- Encourages students to:
- Discuss local development issues (sanitation, education, gender equity, digital access).
- Draft mock resolutions and propose local action plans.
- Interact with PRI members, mirroring democratic decision-making.
Policy Alignment
- Aligned with NEP 2020 – promotes holistic, experiential, and value-based education.
- Supports Panchayati Raj Vision 2047 – creating a citizenry rooted in Janbhagidari (People’s Participation).
- Reinforces the idea of “Democracy as a lived experience” in schools and communities.
Broader Significance
- Youth Empowerment: Builds civic consciousness and leadership from school level.
- Democracy Deepening: Bridges gap between citizens and Panchayati Raj Institutions (PRIs).
- Inclusivity: Integrates tribal and rural youth (via EMRSs and state schools).
- Digital Governance: Uses portal-based participation to strengthen e-Governance literacy.
- Capacity Building: Teachers trained to mentor civic learning through Gram Sabha simulation.
Future Roadmap
- Scale-up to all districts by 2027 under MoPR’s Good Governance Initiative.
- Integration with SVAMITVA, Mission Antyodaya, and Localisation of SDGs programs.
- Evaluation framework for learning impact, civic outcomes, and leadership development among youth.
In Essence:
The Model Youth Gram Sabha (MYGS) initiative is a transformative bridge between education and democracy, preparing India’s next generation to be participatory, accountable, and community-oriented citizens, thereby realizing the vision of Viksit Bharat through grassroots Janbhagidari.
