Union Minister of Power Manohar Lal at the curtain raiser event in the run-up to the Bharat Electricity Summit (2026). (Credit: X/mlkhattar)
As per our estimates, India has an investment potential of about half a trillion U.S. dollars over the next seven years, said Union Minister of Power Manohar Lal on Thursday (January 15, 2026).
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Speaking at the curtain raiser event in the run-up to the Bharat Electricity Summit (2026), the Union Power Minister elaborated that India holds an investment potential of about $346 billion in electricity generation, $68.2 billion in transmission and distribution, and another $35.2 billion in energy storage.
Further elaborating on the same notion, Pankaj Agarwal, Secretary at the Ministry of Power noted, “India is a high-growth market with huge, untapped potential wherein opportunities are immense.”
Addressing a broader notion about the sector earlier in his address, Mr. Lal stated, “There was a time when our discussions centred on bridging shortages and meeting basic needs. Today, we are talking about managing surplus, ensuring resilience and delivering universal excellence.”
He stated the power shortage in the country has come down from 4.2% in 2014 to 0.03% in 2025.
The four-day Bharat Electricity Summit (2026) would be held in New Delhi from 19-22 March this year. Welcoming stakeholders, Mr. Lal informed the theme of the summit would be “Electrifying Growth. Empowering Sustainability. Connecting Globally”.
Published – January 16, 2026 11:10 am IST
