Content

1. India Achieves Historic Milestone in Power Sector (PIB, 29 Oct 2025)
2. Nationwide Launch of ‘Model Youth Gram Sabha (MYGS)’ Initiative

India Achieves Historic Milestone in Power Sector

Why in News?

• India’s total installed electricity capacity surpassed 500 GW as of 30 September 2025.
• Renewable generation exceeded 50% of national electricity demand on 29 July 2025 — a first in Indian history.

Relevance

• GS-2 (Governance & Policy): Energy governance, inter-ministerial coordination (MNRE & MoP), fulfillment of COP26 Panchamrit targets, and regulatory framework for clean energy transition.
• GS-3 (Energy & Environment): Renewable energy expansion, energy mix diversification, climate change mitigation, emission intensity reduction, and green job creation under Atmanirbhar Bharat.

Installed Capacity Milestone

• Total Installed Capacity: 500.89 GW (as of 30 Sept 2025)
• Break-up:
  • Non-fossil sources: 256.09 GW (≈51%)
  • Fossil-based sources: 244.80 GW (≈49%)

*approximate based on MNRE data.

Record Renewable Generation (29 July 2025)

• Peak electricity demand: 203 GW
• Renewable share in generation: 51.5% (Highest ever)
  • Solar: 44.50 GW
  • Wind: 29.89 GW
  • Hydro: 30.29 GW
• Significance: For the first time, more than half of India’s real-time power came from green sources in a single day.

Capacity Addition Trend (FY 2025–26: April–Sept 2025)

• Non-fossil capacity added: 28 GW
• Fossil capacity added: 5.1 GW
• Reflects accelerated clean energy transition and diversification away from coal-heavy dependence.

Achievement of COP26 Target (Panchamrit)

• Target: 50% of installed electric capacity from non-fossil fuel sources by 2030.
• Status: Achieved five years ahead of schedule (2025).
• Confirms India’s leadership in clean energy transition and commitment to climate goals.

Significance & Implications

• Energy Security: Diversifies energy mix; reduces import dependence.
• Climate Leadership: Strengthens India’s credibility under Paris Agreement & COP pledges.
• Employment: Creates large-scale jobs in solar module manufacturing, installation, O&M, and green hydrogen value chains.
• Economic Resilience: Attracts global green investment; supports “Make in India” and “Atmanirbhar Bharat.”
• Grid Stability: Demonstrates India’s success in integrating large renewable capacity while maintaining frequency stability (49.90–50.05 Hz).
• Decentralized Power Growth: Boosts rural mini-grids and rooftop solar adoption.

Policy & Institutional Drivers

• National Electricity Plan (NEP) 2023 – guided capacity expansion.
• Green Energy Corridor Projects – enhanced renewable evacuation capacity.
• Production Linked Incentive (PLI) – for high-efficiency solar PV modules.
• Renewable Energy Certificates (REC) and Green Open Access Rules (2022) – boosted private participation.
• Hydrogen Mission & Offshore Wind Policy (2023) – expanded non-solar diversification.

Global Context

• India now ranks 3rd globally in installed renewable capacity (after China and the USA).
• Among the fastest-growing large economies to cross 50% non-fossil share in installed power.
• Contributes significantly to global net-zero efforts despite per capita emissions ≈1.9 tCO₂, below world average (≈4.7 tCO₂).

The Road Ahead

• Target by 2030:
  • 500 GW non-fossil capacity.
  • Reduce total emissions intensity by 45% from 2005 levels.
• Key Focus Areas:
  • Green hydrogen commercialization.
  • Battery energy storage systems (BESS).
  • Smart grids and flexible generation.
  • Offshore wind and pumped hydro.
  • EV–renewable integration.

In Essence:

India’s power sector crossing 500 GW total capacity and achieving 51% renewable generation marks a strategic inflection point — signaling a clean, reliable, and future-ready energy ecosystem that meets developmental needs while aligning with global climate commitments.

Nationwide Launch of ‘Model Youth Gram Sabha (MYGS)’ Initiative

Why in News ?

• The Ministry of Panchayati Raj, in collaboration with the Ministry of Education and Ministry of Tribal Affairs, launched the first-of-its-kind “Model Youth Gram Sabha (MYGS)” initiative on 30 October 2025 in New Delhi.
• Marks a major step toward integrating youth civic education with grassroots democratic participation.

Relevance

• GS-2 (Governance & Polity): Strengthening Panchayati Raj Institutions, participatory democracy, Janbhagidari, and local governance reforms.
• GS-1 (Society): Civic awareness, youth engagement in democratic processes, and fostering inclusive citizenship values.
• GS-4 (Ethics & Values): Ethical leadership, responsibility, and transparency through experiential democratic learning aligned with NEP 2020.

Core Objective

• To institutionalize youth participation in local governance by engaging students in simulated Gram Sabha sessions.
• To cultivate democratic values, leadership, and civic responsibility among students — the future stakeholders of Viksit Bharat @2047.

Institutional Collaboration

• Lead Ministry: Ministry of Panchayati Raj (MoPR)
• Partner Ministries:
  • Ministry of Education (Department of School Education & Literacy)
  • Ministry of Tribal Affairs
• Supported by: State Panchayati Raj Departments, JNVs, EMRSs, and State Government Schools.

Implementation Scale

• Rollout across 1,000+ schools nationwide including:
  • Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalayas (JNVs)
  • Eklavya Model Residential Schools (EMRSs)
  • State Government Schools
• Participants: Students, teachers, elected PRI members, and 650+ delegates from Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, and Haryana in the inaugural event.

Key Launch Components

• Training Module on Model Youth Gram Sabha – capacity-building tool for teachers and facilitators.
• MYGS Portal – a digital platform for:
  • Conducting simulated Gram Sabha activities.
  • Tracking participation and learning outcomes.
  • Sharing best practices and success stories.

Conceptual Framework

• Model Youth Gram Sabha (MYGS) = an experiential civic-learning model simulating real Gram Sabha functioning.
• Encourages students to:
  • Discuss local development issues (sanitation, education, gender equity, digital access).
  • Draft mock resolutions and propose local action plans.
  • Interact with PRI members, mirroring democratic decision-making.

Policy Alignment

• Aligned with NEP 2020 – promotes holistic, experiential, and value-based education.
• Supports Panchayati Raj Vision 2047 – creating a citizenry rooted in Janbhagidari (People’s Participation).
• Reinforces the idea of “Democracy as a lived experience” in schools and communities.

Broader Significance

• Youth Empowerment: Builds civic consciousness and leadership from school level.
• Democracy Deepening: Bridges gap between citizens and Panchayati Raj Institutions (PRIs).
• Inclusivity: Integrates tribal and rural youth (via EMRSs and state schools).
• Digital Governance: Uses portal-based participation to strengthen e-Governance literacy.
• Capacity Building: Teachers trained to mentor civic learning through Gram Sabha simulation.

Future Roadmap

• Scale-up to all districts by 2027 under MoPR’s Good Governance Initiative.
• Integration with SVAMITVA, Mission Antyodaya, and Localisation of SDGs programs.
• Evaluation framework for learning impact, civic outcomes, and leadership development among youth.

In Essence:

The Model Youth Gram Sabha (MYGS) initiative is a transformative bridge between education and democracy, preparing India’s next generation to be participatory, accountable, and community-oriented citizens, thereby realizing the vision of Viksit Bharat through grassroots Janbhagidari.