Union Minister for New and Renewable Energy, Pralhad Venkatesh Joshi, said in New Delhi that the vision and leadership of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi over the last twelve years have positioned India as a global leader in clean energy and accelerated the nation’s progress towards Viksit Bharat. He noted that India has moved beyond discussing renewable energy possibilities to delivering tangible results on the ground, with rapid growth in renewable energy capacity, domestic manufacturing and citizen participation driving the country’s clean energy transition.
Marking a significant achievement in this journey, Joshi released the Report on Floating Solar PV Potential Assessment of India, which estimates the nation’s floating solar potential at more than 102 GWp and raises India’s total assessed solar potential to 3,445 GWp. He announced that the Ministry is preparing a dedicated scheme to encourage floating solar deployment across the country.
The report has been prepared by the National Institute of Solar Energy (NISE), an autonomous specialised institution under the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE). Congratulating NISE and its Director General, Dr Mohammad Rihan, for their contributions to research, innovation and technical assistance, the Minister said such initiatives would play a vital role in building a self-reliant and developed India powered by clean energy.
On the occasion, NISE and the Military Engineering Services exchanged a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to strengthen solar energy adoption across defence establishments. Under this partnership, NISE will extend technical support for the planning, implementation and monitoring of renewable energy projects.
Joshi also launched the book Green Energy and Sustainable Development, authored by Dr Rihan. He expressed confidence that the publication would serve as a useful resource for students, researchers, policymakers and other stakeholders.
The Minister further launched the Online Portal for the Small Hydro Power Development Scheme, stating that it would improve transparency and efficiency in implementation. He added that the initiative represents the first major policy intervention in the small hydro sector since 2017.
Highlighting India’s achievements in clean energy, Joshi said the country has earned global recognition for delivering on ambitious climate and energy commitments. He reiterated that India has transformed from a power-deficit nation into a power-surplus economy while emerging as a major centre for renewable energy manufacturing.
Other eminent speakers included Santosh Kumar Sarangi, Secretary, MNRE; Mayank Tewari, Additional Secretary, MNRE; Rajesh Kulhari, Joint Secretary (SHP – Small Hydro Power), MNRE, and Lieutenant General / DG Works, Military Engineer Service (MES), Ministry of Defence.
