The two-day Chintan Shivir 2026 of the Ministry of Power concluded on January 23, 2026, at Parwanoo in Himachal Pradesh, marking an important milestone in shaping the future course of India’s power sector through collective reflection, policy alignment and forward-looking reforms.
The Shivir was attended by Union Minister of Power and Housing and Urban Affairs Shri Manohar Lal, Union Minister of State for Power and New and Renewable Energy Shri Shripad Naik, Secretary Power, senior officers of the Ministry of Power, Central Electricity Authority, Central Electricity Regulatory Commission, Central Public Sector Enterprises, State Government officials, State Electricity Regulatory Commissions, industry leaders, experts and academicians.
In his inaugural address on January 22, Shri Manohar Lal highlighted the significant achievements of India’s power sector over the past decade and underscored the need to confront persistent challenges with urgency and clarity. He emphasised that India’s long-term vision of Viksit Bharat 2047 requires a robust, resilient and sustainable electricity sector capable of delivering reliable, affordable and clean power to all consumers while supporting rapid economic growth.
Deliberations during the two-day Shivir focused on key reform priorities and strategic themes aimed at strengthening the sector’s financial health, enhancing competitiveness, accelerating energy transition and placing consumers at the centre of the power ecosystem. The discussions were structured around the following core areas:
Draft Electricity Amendment Bill 2026 to ensure financial viability, economic competitiveness and energy transition
Draft National Electricity Policy 2026 aligned with the vision of Viksit Bharat 2047 and energy independence
Accelerated development of nuclear energy based power generation
Sustainable long-term reform measures in the power distribution sector
Optimisation of transmission systems, distributed energy resources and energy storage to reduce costs and achieve the 300 GWh storage target by 2030
Action plan for minimising litigation and promoting deregulation
Participants engaged in open, holistic and solution-oriented discussions, sharing practical insights from their respective organisations. The emphasis remained on balancing reform ambition with on-ground realism, restoring sectoral confidence and improving ease of doing business while safeguarding consumer interests.
On the first day, detailed discussions were held on the Draft Electricity Amendment Bill 2026, which seeks to address structural inefficiencies, strengthen regulatory accountability, modernise the legal framework and improve the financial viability of distribution licensees. The proposed amendments aim to enable a seamless energy transition, promote competition, reduce avoidable disputes and enhance investor confidence while ensuring consumer protection.
The Draft National Electricity Policy 2026 was also deliberated extensively. The policy envisages per capita electricity consumption of 2,000 kWh by 2030 and over 4,000 kWh by 2047, reduction in emissions intensity by 45 percent below 2005 levels by 2030 and achievement of net zero emissions by 2070. Participants discussed measures to integrate higher shares of variable renewable energy, strengthen grid resilience, promote demand-side management and deliver consumer-centric services. A focused session was also held on fast-tracking nuclear power deployment as a reliable source of clean baseload energy.
On the second day, discussions centred on securing the long-term financial sustainability of power distribution companies through structural reforms encompassing operational efficiency, financial discipline and regulatory strengthening. Special attention was given to rationalising cross-subsidies, particularly for manufacturing, railways and metro systems, to enhance industrial competitiveness and support employment generation. Participants also examined challenges and pathways for optimising transmission networks, distributed energy resources and storage solutions to minimise transmission costs and achieve the national energy storage targets.
The final session addressed the growing burden of litigation in the power sector. It was observed that disputes often arise due to lack of clarity, inconsistent interpretation of regulations and procedural delays. Participants stressed the need for standardisation, digitalisation and faster decision-making in areas such as tariff determination, change-in-law claims, grid connectivity and dispute resolution. Reducing litigation was identified as critical for lowering costs for utilities and consumers and improving the overall investment climate.
During the concluding session, Shri Manohar Lal released the Central Electricity Authority report titled Roadmap to 100 GW of Hydro Pumped Storage Projects by 2035–36. The report outlines India’s strategy to meet rising energy storage needs driven by the expansion of non-fossil fuel capacity to 500 GW by 2030 and 701 GW by 2035. It projects storage requirements of 62 GW by 2029–30 and 161 GW by 2034–35, highlighting the growing importance of long-duration storage beyond 2030. The roadmap identifies pumped storage projects as a proven, clean, large-scale and long-life solution based largely on indigenous technologies, assesses state-wise potential, proposes phased capacity addition and recommends policy, regulatory and implementation measures, with special emphasis on off-stream closed-loop projects to enhance grid resilience.
The 14th Integrated Rating and Ranking Report of Power Distribution Utilities was also released on January 23. A total of 65 distribution utilities were rated in the current exercise, of which 31 utilities achieved A Plus or A ratings. Torrent Power Ahmedabad and Torrent Power Surat topped the rankings for FY 2024–25. Among state-owned distribution companies, Uttar Gujarat Vij Company Limited emerged as the best-performing utility.
In his concluding remarks, Shri Manohar Lal urged all stakeholders to work in close coordination for time-bound implementation of the reforms discussed during the Shivir. He emphasised that sustained collaboration between the Centre, States, industry, utilities and institutions is essential to position India as a global leader in the power sector and to deliver reliable, affordable and sustainable electricity in line with the nation’s development goals.
