The Ministry of Railways was honoured with the prestigious PM Surya Ghar Excellence Award 2026 by Vice President of India C. P. Radhakrishnan on 5 November 2026, during the Renewable Energy Summit & Expo 2026 held at Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi.
The Ministry secured the top position in the category “Maximum Buildings Solarized by Central Ministries/Departments” under the PM Surya Ghar: Muft Bijli Yojana.
The recognition highlights Indian Railways’ achievements in rooftop solar installation, renewable energy adoption and the promotion of sustainable infrastructure across the country.
Key Highlights of the Award
Railway buildings solarized: 12,495
Completion rate: 79%
Installed solar capacity: 351 MW
Solarization deadline: March 2027
| Particular | Details |
|---|---|
| Award | PM Surya Ghar Excellence Award 2026 |
| Award Recipient | Ministry of Railways |
| Presented By | Vice President C. P. Radhakrishnan |
| Date | 5 November 2026 |
| Venue | Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi |
| Event | Renewable Energy Summit & Expo 2026 |
| Award Category | Maximum Buildings Solarized by Central Ministries/Departments |
| Government Scheme | PM Surya Ghar: Muft Bijli Yojana |
Ministry of Railways’ Rooftop Solar Achievements
The Ministry of Railways has identified 15,868 feasible railway buildings across India for rooftop solar installations.
Out of these, 12,495 buildings have already been equipped with rooftop solar systems, representing approximately 79% of the total identified buildings.
Railway building solarization progress
79%
12,495 of 15,868 feasible railway buildings solarized
The Ministry has also commissioned 351 megawatts (MW) of rooftop solar capacity against its target of 424 MW, achieving approximately 83% of its planned capacity.
These achievements reflect Indian Railways’ commitment to reducing dependence on conventional energy sources and increasing the use of clean energy.
National Rooftop Solar Progress Across Central Ministries
At the national level, 77 Central Ministries and Departments have identified 39,135 buildings suitable for rooftop solar installations.
Of these, 25,984 buildings have been solarized, representing approximately 66% of the identified buildings.
| Indicator | Ministry of Railways | All 77 Central Ministries/Departments |
|---|---|---|
| Buildings identified | 15,868 | 39,135 |
| Buildings solarized | 12,495 | 25,984 |
| Completion rate | 79% | 66% |
The Ministry of Railways accounts for approximately 48% of the solarized buildings across these Central Ministries and Departments, making it a major contributor to the national rooftop solar initiative.
What Is PM Surya Ghar: Muft Bijli Yojana?
The PM Surya Ghar: Muft Bijli Yojana is a Government of India initiative launched in February 2024 to promote rooftop solar installations and expand the adoption of renewable energy.
The scheme aims to support rooftop solar installations in one crore households and enable eligible households to receive the benefit of up to 300 units of electricity per month through solar power generation.
The programme also encourages rooftop solar adoption across government buildings and public institutions.
Indian Railways’ Solarization Target for March 2027
The Ministry of Railways has committed to solarizing all remaining feasible railway buildings by March 2027.
Based on the reported figures, approximately 3,373 identified buildings remain to be equipped with rooftop solar systems.
The Ministry also needs to commission an additional 73 MW of rooftop solar capacity to reach its stated target of 424 MW.
Achieving these targets will strengthen the role of Indian Railways in India’s transition towards sustainable energy infrastructure.
Significance of the Award
The PM Surya Ghar Excellence Award recognises the Ministry of Railways’ leadership in renewable energy adoption across public institutions.
Its achievements are significant for several reasons:
- Renewable energy expansion: Encourages the use of solar power in government infrastructure.
- Environmental sustainability: Helps reduce dependence on fossil-fuel-based electricity.
- Energy efficiency: Supports more efficient use of railway building rooftops for electricity generation.
- Government leadership: Establishes an example for other Central Ministries and Departments.
- Sustainable development: Supports India’s wider clean-energy transition and environmental goals.
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