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India's installed solar capacity is about 175 GW and non-fossil capacity is 308 GW, 55% of the total, according to a PIB backgrounder of 13 November 2026.
Why in news
- On 13 November 2026 the Press Information Bureau released a backgrounder on India's renewable energy journey.
- The Bharat Renewable Energy Summit and Expo (BRESE) 2026 was held from 2 to 5 November in New Delhi.
- Thirteen States and Union Territories, including Uttar Pradesh, showcased their renewable energy potential at BRESE.
What does the backgrounder cover?
The backgrounder reviews six clean-energy streams: solar, wind, hydro, bio-energy, geothermal and green hydrogen. It links the expansion to rising power demand, energy security and a cleaner energy mix, and lists the schemes that support each stream.
Total installed power capacity is around 560 GW in October 2026, up from 249 GW in 2014. India invested USD 63.7 billion in renewable energy between July 2024 and June 2026.
Key facts and figures
| Item | Official figure | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Non-fossil capacity | 308 GW, 55% of total | As of 31 July 2026 |
| Solar capacity | About 175 GW | As of 31 October 2026 |
| Wind capacity | 59.20 GW | As of 29 October 2026 |
| Hydro capacity | 57.49 GW | As of 29 October 2026 |
| Bio-power capacity | 11.75 GW | As of 29 October 2026 |
| Global rank | Third in renewable capacity | PIB backgrounder |
Major schemes named in the release
| Scheme | Outlay | Key target |
|---|---|---|
| PM-Surya Ghar: Muft Bijli Yojana | Rs 75,021 crore | 1 crore households |
| PM Surya Sarovar Yojana | Rs 5,070 crore | 5,000 MW floating solar |
| GOBARdhan National Circular Bioenergy Scheme | Rs 23,731 crore | Ten-fold domestic CBG output |
| Small Hydro Power Development Scheme | Rs 2,584.60 crore | About 1,500 MW |
| National Green Hydrogen Mission | Rs 19,744 crore | 5 MMT by 2030 |
Under PM-Surya Ghar, 65.26 lakh households benefit from rooftop solar as of 2 November 2026 and 19.1 GW of rooftop capacity has been commissioned.
Why does it matter?:
- Solar is the largest part of renewable capacity, so rooftop and floating solar schemes drive most future growth.
- Wind added 6.05 GW in FY 2025-26, its highest annual addition, and about 28 GW more is under implementation.
- Green hydrogen has a 5 MMT by 2030 target under the National Green Hydrogen Mission.
- Geothermal potential is estimated at around 10,600 MW across 381 hot springs.
Static link-back
- Renewable sources: solar, wind, hydro, bio-energy, geothermal and green hydrogen.
- Energy security and climate commitments sit under GS-III (economy, environment).
- Compressed biogas (CBG) links waste management with clean fuel.
Uttar Pradesh angle
Uttar Pradesh was one of the 13 States and Union Territories that presented renewable potential, investment opportunities and manufacturing capabilities at the summit. For GS-V and GS-VI, read this as the state's participation in the national clean-energy push. Rooftop solar under PM-Surya Ghar and solar pumps for farmers are national schemes that households and farmers in every State, including Uttar Pradesh, can use; state-wise numbers are published by the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy.
Likely confusions
- Non-fossil capacity (308 GW) is not the same as solar capacity (about 175 GW).
- Total installed capacity (about 560 GW) is not renewable capacity.
- PM-Surya Ghar (rooftop solar) is not PM Surya Sarovar (floating solar).
Key Terms
- Non-fossil capacity
- Installed power capacity from sources other than fossil fuels.
- CBG
- Compressed biogas, a fuel made from organic waste.
- Floating solar PV
- Solar panels installed on water bodies.
- Green hydrogen
- Hydrogen made using renewable electricity.
- VGF
- Viability gap funding, a grant that makes a project viable.
- MMT
- Million metric tonnes.
UPPSC syllabus: GS-III, GS-VI
FAQs
Which scheme targets floating solar?
PM Surya Sarovar Yojana, approved on 31 July 2026, targets 5,000 MW of floating solar PV with storage.
What is the non-fossil share of capacity?
308 GW, which is 55% of total installed capacity, as of 31 July 2026.
Sources: PIB Backgrounder: India's Renewable Energy Journey: Powering a Cleaner Future
Last verified: 2026-11-14
