The Ministry of Railways has been honoured with the prestigious PM Surya Ghar Excellence Award 2026 for its achievements in expanding rooftop solar energy installations across railway buildings. Vice President of India C. P. Radhakrishnan presented the award on 5 November 2026 at the Renewable Energy Summit and Expo 2026, organised at Bharat Mandapam in New Delhi.
The Ministry secured the top position in the category of Maximum Buildings Solarized by Central Ministries/Departments under the PM Surya Ghar: Muft Bijli Yojana. The award recognises its efforts to integrate renewable energy into public infrastructure and promote environmentally sustainable railway operations. Press Information Bureau+1
The Ministry of Railways has identified 15,868 feasible railway buildings across the country for rooftop solar installations. Out of these, 12,495 buildings have already been equipped with rooftop solar systems.
This represents approximately 79% of the total identified buildings. The achievement demonstrates the growing adoption of renewable energy within India’s railway infrastructure. Railway buildings provide substantial rooftop space that can be utilised for electricity generation without requiring additional land.
The solar installations can help railway establishments meet part of their electricity requirements through clean energy, while reducing their dependence on conventional electricity sources.
In addition to the number of buildings solarized, the Ministry has made considerable progress in expanding its rooftop solar generation capacity.
According to the Ministry of Railways, it has commissioned 351 megawatts (MW) of rooftop solar capacity against its target of 424 MW. This represents approximately 83% of the planned capacity.
The remaining capacity requirement is 73 MW. Completing the installations will further strengthen the contribution of solar energy to railway operations and infrastructure.
Rooftop solar systems can generate electricity for railway offices, administrative buildings, stations and other suitable railway establishments, depending on their installation and electricity arrangements.
The Ministry of Railways has also contributed substantially to the broader rooftop solarisation programme involving Central Government Ministries and Departments.
Across 77 Central Ministries and Departments, a total of 39,135 buildings have been identified as suitable for rooftop solar installations. Of these, 25,984 buildings have already been solarized, representing approximately 66% of the identified buildings.
The Ministry of Railways alone accounts for around 48% of the solarized buildings within this group. Its achievement of solarizing 12,495 buildings makes it a major contributor to the national effort to expand renewable energy use in government infrastructure.
The figures also indicate that the railway network has made progress above the overall solarization rate reported for the 77 Ministries and Departments. Press Information Bureau+1
The Ministry of Railways has committed to completing the solarization of all remaining feasible railway buildings by March 2027.
Out of the 15,868 identified buildings, approximately 3,373 are yet to receive rooftop solar installations. Similarly, the Ministry needs to commission another 73 MW to achieve its stated target of 424 MW.
Meeting these targets will increase the use of renewable electricity across railway establishments and strengthen the environmental sustainability of India’s public transportation infrastructure.
The initiative also demonstrates how large government organisations can use existing infrastructure to support the country’s clean-energy transition.
The PM Surya Ghar: Muft Bijli Yojana is a flagship Government of India initiative launched on 13 February 2024 to encourage rooftop solar installations in residential households.
The scheme aims to benefit one crore households by supporting the installation of rooftop solar systems. Eligible households can receive central financial assistance for installing solar panels and benefit from generating their own electricity. The programme aims to enable households to receive up to 300 units of free electricity per month through rooftop solar generation.
The scheme is administered by the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE). Its broader objectives include increasing renewable energy generation, reducing household electricity expenditure and promoting decentralised solar power.
The Railway Ministry’s award highlights the wider importance of solar energy adoption across public institutions as India expands its renewable energy infrastructure. iPIB+1
Rooftop solar installations offer several advantages for a large organisation such as Indian Railways. They utilise existing building rooftops, reduce the need for additional land and enable electricity generation close to consumption points.
Solar power can also help reduce electricity expenditure over the operational life of the installations, subject to installation, maintenance and financing costs. Furthermore, replacing a portion of electricity sourced from fossil-fuel-based generation with renewable electricity can contribute to lower greenhouse gas emissions.
For Indian Railways, which operates an extensive network of stations, offices, workshops and other establishments, renewable energy adoption is an important component of its long-term sustainability efforts.
The recognition of the Ministry of Railways reflects the growing role of government infrastructure in India’s renewable energy transition. Public institutions can demonstrate the practical use of clean-energy technologies and encourage other organisations to adopt similar measures.
The initiative supports India’s broader objectives of increasing non-fossil-fuel energy capacity, improving energy efficiency and reducing carbon emissions.
The award is therefore significant not only for Indian Railways but also for India’s efforts to develop a more sustainable energy system. It highlights the importance of combining infrastructure development with environmental responsibility.
The PM Surya Ghar Excellence Award 2026 highlights India’s efforts to expand renewable energy adoption beyond individual households. The solarization of railway buildings demonstrates how public infrastructure can contribute to decentralised electricity generation and reduce dependence on conventional power sources.
Indian Railways is one of the country’s largest public transportation networks. Its adoption of rooftop solar energy supports environmentally sustainable infrastructure and encourages the integration of renewable energy into public transportation facilities.
This development is directly associated with the PM Surya Ghar: Muft Bijli Yojana, launched in February 2024. Students preparing for UPSC, State PSC, SSC, Banking and Railways examinations should understand the scheme’s objectives, implementing ministry and renewable energy focus.
Generating electricity through rooftop solar systems can reduce the dependence of government establishments on conventional electricity sources. It also supports energy diversification and strengthens long-term energy security.
Solar energy is a renewable source of electricity that can help reduce greenhouse gas emissions when it replaces fossil-fuel-based power generation. The initiative supports India’s clean-energy transition and climate-related objectives.
This news is relevant to current affairs, government schemes, awards and honours, renewable energy, environmental studies, Indian Railways and sustainable development. The award recipient, presenting authority, date, venue and solarization figures are particularly important examination facts.
India launched the Jawaharlal Nehru National Solar Mission in January 2010 as part of the National Action Plan on Climate Change. The mission aimed to promote solar energy development, encourage investment in solar technologies and increase the contribution of renewable energy to India’s electricity supply.
It laid the foundation for India’s long-term solar energy development and encouraged the expansion of both grid-connected and off-grid solar power projects.
Over the years, India has introduced several policies and initiatives to increase renewable energy generation. Solar power has become an important part of the country’s energy transition because of its potential for large-scale electricity generation and decentralised applications.
Government initiatives have encouraged solar parks, rooftop solar installations and other renewable energy projects to reduce dependence on fossil fuels.
On 13 February 2024, the Government of India launched the PM Surya Ghar: Muft Bijli Yojana under the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy.
The scheme aims to install rooftop solar systems in one crore households and provide eligible beneficiaries with financial assistance. It seeks to promote household-level solar electricity generation and make clean energy more accessible.
The programme represents an important step towards decentralised renewable energy generation in India.
Indian Railways has progressively incorporated renewable energy and energy-efficiency measures into its infrastructure. Rooftop solar installations at railway stations, offices, workshops and other establishments are part of its efforts to reduce conventional electricity consumption.
The use of existing railway rooftops for solar power generation also helps utilise available infrastructure without requiring extensive additional land.
The recognition of the Ministry of Railways with the PM Surya Ghar Excellence Award on 5 November 2026 represents an important development in the adoption of renewable energy by Central Government institutions.
With 12,495 railway buildings solarized and 351 MW of rooftop solar capacity commissioned, the Ministry has demonstrated considerable progress towards its renewable energy targets.
The commitment to solarize all remaining feasible railway buildings by March 2027 reflects the continuing expansion of sustainable energy infrastructure in India.
Q1. Which ministry received the PM Surya Ghar Excellence Award 2026?
The Ministry of Railways received the PM Surya Ghar Excellence Award 2026 for its achievements in rooftop solar installations across railway buildings.
Q2. Who presented the PM Surya Ghar Excellence Award 2026 to the Ministry of Railways?
Vice President of India C. P. Radhakrishnan presented the award.
Q3. When was the PM Surya Ghar Excellence Award 2026 presented?
The award was presented on 5 November 2026.
Q4. Where was the PM Surya Ghar Excellence Award ceremony organised?
The ceremony was organised at Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi, during the Renewable Energy Summit and Expo 2026.
Q5. In which category did the Ministry of Railways receive the award?
The Ministry received the award in the category of Maximum Buildings Solarized by Central Ministries/Departments.
Q6. How many railway buildings have been equipped with rooftop solar systems?
A total of 12,495 railway buildings have been equipped with rooftop solar systems.
Q7. What percentage of identified railway buildings have been solarized?
Approximately 79% of the identified feasible railway buildings have been solarized.
Q8. What is the total rooftop solar capacity commissioned by the Ministry of Railways?
The Ministry has commissioned 351 MW of rooftop solar capacity against its target of 424 MW.
Q9. What is the deadline for completing the solarization of remaining feasible railway buildings?
The Ministry of Railways aims to complete the solarization of all remaining feasible buildings by March 2027.
Q10. What is the PM Surya Ghar: Muft Bijli Yojana?
It is a Government of India initiative launched on 13 February 2024 to promote rooftop solar installations in residential households and support eligible beneficiaries through financial assistance.
Q11. Which ministry implements the PM Surya Ghar: Muft Bijli Yojana?
The Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) implements the scheme.
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