Environment & Ecology
Renewable energy in India
Overview
India is the world's 3rd largest consumer of electricity and has the world's 3rd largest renewable energy installed capacity and 4th highest renewable electricity production. Renewable sources account for more than 50% of India's total installed electricity capacity, a target achieved in 2025, five years ahead of schedule under its Paris Agreement commitments. As of April 2026, it also has the world's 3rd highest solar energy capacity, 4th highest wind energy capacity and 5th highest hydroelectric power capacity. India was the world's first country to set up a ministry of non-conventional energy resources, Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE), in 1982, which has been responsible for the development and research of renewable energy infrastructure in the country since.
Source: Wikipedia — Renewable energy in India (CC BY-SA)
Key concepts
How Renewable energy in India connects to the ideas, people and events around it.
India, officially the Republic of India, is a country in South Asia. It is the world's seventh-largest country by area and its most populous.
Renewable energy is energy made from renewable natural resources that are replenished on a human timescale. The most widely used renewable energy types are solar energy, wind power, bioenergy/biomass, and hydropower.
The Paris Agreement is an international treaty on climate change that was signed in 2016. The treaty covers climate change mitigation, adaptation, and finance.
Solar power is an important source of electricity in India. Since the mid-2010s, India has increased its solar power significantly with the help of various government initiatives. By September 2026, India's solar power installed capacity reached 171.05 GWAC.
Wind power generation capacity in India has significantly increased in recent years. As of 31 March 2026, the total installed wind power capacity was 56.00 gigawatts (GW). India has the fourth largest installed wind power capacity in the world.
India is 5th globally for installed hydroelectric power capacity. As of 31 March 2020, India's installed utility-scale hydroelectric capacity was 46,000 MW, or 12.3% of its total utility power generation capacity.
The Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) is a ministry of the Government of India, headed by current Union Cabinet Minister Pralhad Joshi, that is mainly responsible for research and development, intellectual property protection, and international cooperation, promotion, and coordination in renewable energy sources such as wind power, small hydro, biogas, battery energy storage and solar po
Run-of-river hydroelectricity (ROR) or run-of-the-river hydroelectricity is a type of hydroelectric generation plant whereby little or no water storage is provided.
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Questions about Renewable energy in India
What is Renewable energy in India?
India is the world's 3rd largest consumer of electricity and has the world's 3rd largest renewable energy installed capacity and 4th highest renewable electricity production. Renewable sources account for more than 50% of India's total installed electricity capacity, a target achieved in 2025, five years ahead of schedule under its Paris Agreement commitments.
What are the key concepts related to Renewable energy in India?
The main concepts connected to Renewable energy in India include India, Renewable energy, Paris Agreement, Solar power in India, Wind power in India, Hydroelectric power in India, Ministry of New and Renewable Energy, Run-of-the-river hydroelectricity. Each is linked on the map above with its own summary.
Which exams cover Renewable energy in India?
Renewable energy in India is part of Environment & Ecology, which appears in the syllabus of UPSC CSE, UPSC CAPF, SSC CGL, SSC CHSL, SSC MTS, SSC GD and 43 more exams.