The Central Electricity Authority’s report, Growth of Electricity Sector in India (1947–2025), presents a comprehensive snapshot of the sector’s evolution since Independence, highlighting a sharp expansion in generation capacity, network infrastructure and electricity consumption. India’s total installed power capacity increased from 1,362 MW in 1947 to about 556.9 GW by March 2025, while per capita electricity consumption rose from just 16.3 units to about 1,400 units in 2024-25, reflecting improved access and rising demand. The report notes substantial growth in transmission and distribution networks, near-universal village electrification and a significant diversification of the generation mix, with renewable energy capacity expanding rapidly alongside coal, hydro and nuclear power. It also indicates a marked reduction in power shortages in recent years, with the system now having surplus capacity, and provides comparative data on India’s electricity consumption and losses vis-à-vis other developed and developing countries, offering a long-term perspective on structural changes in the power sector.
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