Molly Ayala
In April 2018, Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced that all of India's 597,464 villages had been electrified. However, this claim has been disputed, as a village is only considered electrified if 10% of its homes and all public buildings are connected to the grid. By this definition, while all villages may technically have access to electricity, many households within them do not. World Bank figures show that around 200 million people in India still lack access to electricity.
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What You'll Learn
The definition of an 'electrified' village
The Indian government has been working to increase electrification rates across the country, with the aim of improving the quality of life for its citizens and boosting the economy.
In 2018, Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced that all of India's villages had access to electricity. This was achieved when a remote village in the northeastern state of Manipur was connected to the grid. However, it is important to note that this does not mean that all households within these villages have electricity.
According to the Indian government, a village is considered electrified if at least 10% of its homes and all public buildings are connected to the grid. This definition has been criticised as it does not ensure universal access to electricity for all villagers.
To address this issue, the government launched the Pradhan Mantri Sahaj Bijli Har Ghar Yojana, or Saubhagya scheme, which aims to provide electricity to all willing households in both rural and urban areas. The scheme has been successful in rapidly expanding the electricity infrastructure in India, with electricity now available within 50 meters of consumers' premises.
The focus has primarily been on grid-extension, with less emphasis on off-grid technologies. However, in remote areas, off-grid systems powered by renewable energy sources like solar power plants have been implemented and proven to be a reliable and cost-effective solution for electrification.
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The number of villages electrified
In April 2018, Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced that all of India's 597,464 villages had been electrified. This was achieved when Leisang, a village in the north-eastern state of Manipur, became the last village to be connected to the grid.
However, the government's definition of an "electrified" village is that at least 10% of its households, as well as public buildings, are connected to the grid. By this definition, all Indian villages have now been electrified, but it is estimated that 200 million people in India still lack access to electricity in their homes.
The definition of an electrified village has changed over the years. Before October 1997, a village was considered electrified if electricity was used for any purpose within its revenue boundary. After October 1997, this changed to include only the inhabited locality within the revenue boundary. From February 2004, a village was considered electrified if it had basic power infrastructure, such as a transformer and distribution line, and electricity was provided to public places.
The variation in electrification rates across states is significant. While some states, such as Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh, have achieved 100% household electrification, others, like Uttar Pradesh and Jharkhand, have much lower rates, with only 55% and 48% of households electrified, respectively.
The Indian government has implemented various schemes and initiatives to achieve 100% electrification, such as the Deen Dayal Upadhyay Gram Jyoti Yojana (DDUGJUY) and the Pradhan Mantri Sahaj Bijli Har Ghar Yojana, or Saubhagya, which aims to ensure electrification of all willing households in both rural and urban areas.
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Household electrification
Electrifying all households in India has been a challenge due to the country's vast and varied geography, poor distribution networks, and financial losses incurred by state distribution companies. In 2014, Prime Minister Narendra Modi came to power with a pledge to bring electricity to every citizen. At that time, there were around 18,452 villages without electricity, and the government launched a $2.5 billion scheme to achieve universal electrification.
By April 2018, the government announced that all of India's 597,464 inhabited villages had been electrified. However, this does not mean that every household in these villages has electricity. A village is considered electrified if 10% of its homes and all public buildings are connected to the grid. This definition has been criticised for creating a false sense of achievement, as it does not reflect the duration and quality of supply.
According to official data, only about 7.3% of villages have 100% household connectivity, leaving almost 31-32 million homes without electricity. This figure varies across states, with some, such as Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh, having 100% coverage, while others, like Uttar Pradesh and Jharkhand, have much lower electrification rates.
To address this issue, the government launched the Pradhan Mantri Sahaj Bijli Har Ghar Yojana, or Saubhagya, which aims to ensure electrification of all willing households in both rural and urban areas. The scheme, launched in September 2017, has a budget of Rs 16,320 crore, with a deadline of December 31, 2018, for achieving 100% household electrification.
While India has made significant strides in electrification since 2000, with electricity reaching 82% of the population in 2016, up from 43% in 2000, there is still work to be done to ensure that all households have access to reliable and quality power supply.
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The impact of electrification
Electrification has had a significant impact on India, with nearly all households electrified as of 2019, opening a world of opportunities for those previously unconnected. This achievement was the result of various government initiatives and policies aimed at providing access to electricity across the country.
One of the most notable impacts of electrification in India is the improvement in access to energy and lighting for millions of people. Electrification has enabled people to meet their basic lighting, cooling, and life needs, enhancing their overall quality of life. This is particularly evident in rural areas, where electricity infrastructure has transformed lives and livelihoods.
Electrification has also had economic implications for India. While there is limited evidence of significant economic gains or increased employment following electrification, it has potentially impacted income generation, especially in rural areas. However, the full economic impact of electrification is complex and challenging to measure, as most economic activities in India occur outside the home, and other factors, such as reliable supply and revenue collection, come into play.
Moreover, electrification in India has had environmental consequences. India's coal-based power sector is considered one of the most resource-wasteful and polluting sectors globally due to the high ash content in Indian coal. To mitigate this, the government has mandated the use of lower-ash coals in power plants in sensitive areas. Additionally, the solar energy sector in India offers enormous potential, with the country being the third-largest producer of solar power globally.
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The future of electrification
Electrification of rural areas in India has been a long-term goal of the Indian government. In 2015, Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched a $2.5 billion scheme to electrify all Indian villages and households by 2018. By April 2018, all of India's 597,464 villages had been electrified, achieving the goal ahead of the target date.
However, this does not mean that all households within these villages have access to electricity. A village is considered electrified if 10% of its homes and all public buildings are connected to the grid. As of August 2018, 91% of total households were electrified in India, with wide variations across states. For example, while Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh had 100% coverage, only 55% of households in Uttar Pradesh and 48% in Jharkhand were electrified.
To achieve 100% electrification, India is investing in various renewable energy sources. Solar power is a key component, despite the disadvantage of intermittent energy production due to reliance on daylight. This can be mitigated by adding energy storage capacity, such as pumped-storage hydroelectricity, and expanding existing and future hydropower stations. India is also focusing on wind power, with the Indian grid transmitting far less electricity than its installed length of transmission lines would suggest.
The success of electrification in India has been attributed to factors such as assured funding, speedy permitting, fast-tracked engineering, procurement, and construction, and the decentralisation of spending powers and decision-making. Going forward, these factors will continue to play a crucial role in ensuring the completion and maintenance of electrification goals.
In summary, the future of electrification in India looks promising, with a continued focus on renewable energy sources, job creation, and improved access to electricity for all households.
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Frequently asked questions
Yes, as of 28 April 2018, all of India's nearly 600,000 villages have been electrified.
A village is considered electrified if at least 10% of its households have electricity and all public buildings are connected to the grid.
Electrifying all Indian villages was one of the greatest achievements in the history of energy, with around half a billion people gaining access to electricity since 2000.
Poor distribution was one of the biggest challenges, with remote and inaccessible villages proving difficult to connect.
The Indian government implemented the Deen Dayal Upadhyaya Gram Jyoti Yojana scheme, focusing on strengthening distribution networks and increasing connections by co-funding network upgrades and extensions.
