Q.Access to affordable, reliable, sustainable and modern energy is the sine qua non to achieve Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).” Comment on the progress made in India in this regard.

Syllabus Point

• Indian Economy and issues relating to Planning, Mobilization of Resources, Growth, Development and Employment.

1. Introduction

Access to clean, affordable, reliable, and modern energy is a fundamental catalyst for achieving the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly SDG 7 (Affordable and Clean Energy). It directly underpins progress in poverty alleviation (SDG 1), health (SDG 3), education (SDG 4), economic growth (SDG 8), and climate action (SDG 13). India has made substantial strides in expanding its energy infrastructure and transitioning toward sustainable energy sources, though equitable distribution challenges persist.

2. Body

Progress Made in India

• Expansion of Electricity Access:
  • Saubhagya Scheme (Pradhan Mantri Sahaj Bijli Har Ghar Yojana): Launched in 2017 to achieve universal household electrification. By March 2019, the government declared that over 99.99% of willing households had been electrified, marking a historic milestone toward SDG 7.
• Growth in Renewable Energy Capacity:
  • National Solar Mission: Launched in 2010, this initiative has driven India's solar capacity to over 49 GW by 2023, moving closer to its ambitious clean energy targets.
  • Overall Renewable Capacity: India's total renewable energy capacity reached approximately 150 GW by 2023, positioning the country as a global leader in climate action (SDG 13).
• Promotion of Clean Cooking Fuels:
  • Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana (PMUY): Launched in 2016 to provide free LPG connections to women from Below Poverty Line (BPL) households. By 2023, over 90 million households benefited, reducing indoor air pollution (SDG 3) and promoting gender equality (SDG 5).
• Energy Efficiency Initiatives:
  • UJALA Scheme: Distributed over 360 million LED bulbs by 2023, leading to massive energy savings and reduced carbon emissions.
  • PAT (Perform, Achieve and Trade) Scheme: A market-based mechanism under the National Mission for Enhanced Energy Efficiency that incentivizes energy-intensive industries to improve efficiency (SDG 9).
• Grid Modernization and Smart Grids:
  • Integrated Power Development Scheme (IPDS): Focuses on strengthening urban distribution networks, reducing power losses, and deploying smart meters to improve grid reliability.
• Rural Electrification:
  • Deendayal Upadhyaya Gram Jyoti Yojana (DDUGJY): Strengthened rural power distribution infrastructure to facilitate 24x7 power supply, supporting rural economic growth (SDG 8).

Remaining Challenges

• Affordability: Despite physical grid connectivity, many low-income households struggle to pay monthly electricity bills and afford LPG cylinder refills.
• Reliability of Supply: Frequent power outages and voltage fluctuations remain common in rural and semi-urban areas.
• Dependence on Fossil Fuels: Coal still accounts for the majority of India's electricity generation, complicating the transition to net-zero emissions.
• Aging Grid Infrastructure: Inadequate transmission and distribution networks lead to high Aggregate Technical and Commercial (AT&C) losses.
• Financial Viability of DISCOMs: Power distribution companies face severe financial stress, limiting their ability to invest in infrastructure upgrades.

Way Forward

• Implement targeted, progressive subsidies and flexible payment models for low-income consumers.
• Accelerate investments in decentralized renewable energy systems (e.g., rooftop solar, micro-grids) in remote areas.
• Strengthen the financial health of DISCOMs through structural tariff reforms.
• Upgrade grid infrastructure to integrate high shares of variable renewable energy.

3. Conclusion

India has demonstrated remarkable political will and execution capacity in expanding energy access and scaling up renewable energy. To fully realize the vision of SDG 7, future policies must focus on improving the reliability of supply, ensuring financial sustainability of the power sector, and making clean energy affordable for the most vulnerable sections of society.