New Delhi: India has officially concluded the 2025–26 financial year with a record-breaking surge in its solar energy sector, achieving the highest annual capacity addition in the country’s history. According to the latest national data, India integrated approximately 45 GW of solar power into its grid over the past twelve months. This unprecedented growth was punctuated by a significant final push in March, which saw the commissioning of 6.65 GW of new projects, marking the highest-ever installation recorded in a single month.
The year-end momentum was reviewed by Shri Santosh Sarangi, Secretary of the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy. During the assessment, officials noted that this accelerated pace of installation is a critical milestone for the nation’s energy transition. The surge reflects an aggressive expansion of both large-scale solar parks and rooftop solar initiatives across various states. Rajasthan, Gujarat, and Maharashtra emerged as the top contributors, leading the nation in capacity additions and driving the shift toward a more self-reliant energy future.
Beyond installation figures, the government reported a massive jump in domestic manufacturing. India’s solar module manufacturing capacity has reached 172 GW, a stark increase from earlier years, supported by nearly 52,900 crore rupees in investment under the Production Linked Incentive (PLI) scheme. This manufacturing base is intended to reduce import dependency while fueling programs like the PM Surya Ghar Muft Bijli Yojana, which currently sees nearly 10,000 new solar installations every day.
Industry analysts suggest that the massive capacity addition in 2025–26 puts India on a much firmer footing to meet its international climate commitments. With a total solar capacity now reaching 150 GW, the country is on track to become the world’s second-largest solar market for annual installations. By maintaining this trajectory, the government aims to stay on track for its target of reaching 500 GW of non-fossil fuel energy capacity by 2030, a goal supported by the ongoing integration of battery storage systems and green hydrogen initiatives.