India reaffirmed its commitment to energy efficiency and sustainable development during the National Energy Conservation Day 2025 celebrations held at Vigyan Bhawan, New Delhi. The President of India, Smt. Droupadi Murmu, presented the National Energy Conservation Awards (NECA) 2025 and honours under the National Painting Competition on Energy Conservation.
Organised by the Bureau of Energy Efficiency (BEE) under the Ministry of Power, the event highlighted energy conservation as a critical pillar of India’s climate action strategy, supporting economic growth while reducing environmental impact. The programme brought together policymakers, industry leaders, institutions and young participants to recognise excellence in responsible energy use.
Union Minister for Power and Housing & Urban Affairs, Shri Manohar Lal, highlighted India’s leadership in the global energy transition, noting the country’s strong performance in energy efficiency improvements. He underlined that India has achieved 50 per cent of its installed electricity capacity from non-fossil fuel sources, reaching this milestone well ahead of its Paris Agreement commitments. The decoupling of emissions growth from GDP growth was also cited as a key achievement.
Key BEE initiatives such as the Perform, Achieve and Trade (PAT) scheme, Standards and Labelling programme, ADEETIE and other flagship interventions were acknowledged for driving large-scale energy conservation across sectors. The introduction of the Renewable Consumption Obligation was highlighted as a significant policy measure to increase the share of clean energy in electricity consumption.
Minister of State for Power, Shri Shripad Yesso Naik, emphasised the importance of behavioural change alongside technological solutions, pointing to the role of citizens and students in strengthening India’s energy conservation movement. Growing participation by youth through educational institutions was identified as a positive trend shaping long-term sustainability outcomes.
Secretary, Ministry of Power, Shri Pankaj Agarwal, reiterated that energy efficiency and conservation are central to India’s development vision, linking energy security, green growth and the goal of Viksit Bharat 2047.
Director General, BEE, Shri Dhiraj Kumar Srivastava, announced the introduction of a new award category for Social Media Influencers and Digital Content Creators, recognising the role of digital platforms in enhancing public engagement on energy efficiency.
This year, the National Energy Conservation Awards received 558 applications across sectors including industry, buildings, transport, appliances, innovation and professional categories. Awards included First and Second Prizes, Certificates of Merit and Certificates of Recognition.
The National Painting Competition on Energy Conservation saw participation from over 80 lakh students nationwide, reflecting widespread youth engagement in sustainability awareness. Winners were recognised at both state and national levels.
The event reinforced India’s integrated approach to energy conservation, combining policy, innovation and citizen participation to advance its climate and sustainability goals.
