The Ministry of Panchayati Raj has collaborated with the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy to include the Gram Panchayats under all its schemes focusing on adoption of renewable energy.

This will enable that in the upcoming years, Gram Panchayats would evolve as self-sufficient in terms of energy and become producers of energy instead of only being consumers.

Moreover, widespread adoption of renewable energy applications in rural areas would enable the Gram Panchayats to develop Own Sources of Revenue (OSR) and employment opportunities for local youth of the villages.

Under the Gram Urja Swaraj Abhiyaan, GPs have developed their own implementation models with the support of Renewable energy development Agencies of the states.

For example, Odanthurai Panchayat in Tamil Nadu has its own windmill, Thikekarwadi Gram Panchayat in Maharashtra has established Biogas plant in PPP mode and Meenvallam, Project of Palakkad district Panchayat in Kerala is the first initiative of a Panchayat under micro hydel.

Many panchayats have taken up solar energy models such as solar roof top models, solar kitchens, solar street lighting and solar high mast light owned by the panchayats.

Under the Gram Urja Swaraj Abhiyaan, as on date, 2,080 Gram Panchayats have taken up and implemented Renewable Energy Projects.

Close to 2020 Gram Panchayats have solar energy systems that are installed and are fully functional.

Around 60 – 70 Gram Panchayats have hydel Energy systems and Wind Energy Systems that are installed and there are 106 GP’s with existing Biogas Energy Systems.

India has the 5th largest installed capacity in the world in renewable energy, 4th largest for wind and 5th largest for the solar energy.

The country had earlier set an ambitious target of expanding the capacity to 175 Giga Watt (GW) immediately [which includes 100 GW from solar, 60 GW from wind, 10 GW from bio-power and 5 GW from small hydropower] and 450 GW of renewable power by 2030.

PM announced First- India will take its non-fossil energy capacity to 500 GW by 2030.

Second- India will meet 50 percent of its energy requirements from renewable energy by 2030. Third- India will reduce the total projected carbon emissions by one billion tonnes from now till 2030.

Fourth- By 2030, India will reduce the carbon intensity of its economy by less than 45 percent. And fifth- by the year 2070, India will achieve the target of Net Zero.

These ‘Panchamrits’ will be an unprecedented contribution of India to climate action.”

India, being the world's fourth biggest emitter of carbon dioxide after China, the United States of America, and the European Union, has indeed shown that it has a significant role to play in the global crusade against climate change.

Although 2070 may seem far away, it is believed that the near-term initiatives will pave the way for India in achieving the goal of becoming carbon neutral.

Therefore, India should aim to increase the adoption of renewable energy such as Solar and Wind Energy etc., to meet around 50% of India’s electricity needs by 2030.

In addition, the Reserve Bank of India, has also recognised solarisation under Farm Credit to Individual farmers category, which is one of the priority sectors for lending by every commercial bank in the country.

To promote adoption of rooftop solar systems, Ministry of Power has amended the Electricity (Rights of Consumers) Rules, 2020, to permit net metering to the prosumer (producer and consumer) for loads up to 500 kW or up to the sanctioned load, whichever is lower.

Most of the States have also formulated their solar policies with an aim to promote rapid adoption of solar energy.

The Grid Connected Solar Rooftop Programme of Ministry of New and Renewable Energy aims for achieving cumulative capacity of 40,000 MW from Rooftop Solar (RTS) Projects by the year 2022.

The Ministry of Renewable Energy through the PM KUSUM Scheme aims to install 20 Lakh stand-alone solar agriculture pumps and solarisation of 15 Lakh Grid connected agriculture pumps.

Under Component B of the Scheme, individual farmers will be supported to install standalone solar agriculture pumps of capacity up to 7.5 HP for replacement of existing diesel Agriculture pumps / irrigation systems in off-grid areas, where grid supply is not available.

Pumps of capacity higher than 7.5 HP can also be installed, however, the financial support will be limited to 7.5 HP capacity.

Under this scheme, Central financial assistance of 30% of the benchmark cost or the tender cost, whichever is lower, of the stand-alone solar Agriculture pump will be provided.

The Pradhan Mantri Khanij Kshetra Kalyan Yojana (PMKKKY) is being implemented by District Mineral Foundations (DMFs) of the respective districts using the funds accruing to the District Mineral Foundation.

The overall objective of PMKKKY scheme is (a) to implement various developmental and welfare projects/programs in mining affected areas, and these projects/ programs will be complementing the existing ongoing schemes/projects of State and Central Government.

Under other priority areas, PMKKY recognises ‘- Development of alternate source of energy’ for utilisation of upto 40% of PMKKY funds.