India eyes 100% household electrification before August 2022

All villages must be powered by May 2018.

The Ministry of Power of India has set a deadline of May 2018 for the electrification of all villages of India and 15 August 2022 for the electrification of all households, according to Enerdata.

According to the World Bank, the electrification rate in India rose from 45% in 1990 to 79% in 2014. In 2014, more than 98% of urban households had access to electricity, while this rate was only 70% in rural areas (up from 32% in 1990).

"This electrification programme will be supported by the government, as distribution companies have accumulated losses and debts (up to Rs 360,736 crore, i.e. US$56.3bn in 2014-2015)," Enerdata said.

This story was originally published by Enerdata.