Over 2.1 crore households have been electrified since October 11 last year, the Union Power Ministry has said. The nation is expected to achieve 100 per cent household electrification by December 31, 2018.
"Nine states have achieved 100 per cent saturation in household electrification under Saubhagya scheme. These states are Madhya Pradesh, Tripura, Bihar, J&K, Uttarakhand, Mizoram, Sikkim, Telangana, and West Bengal," the ministry said in a statement.
Thus, a total of 16 states in the country now have 100 per cent household electrification. Many more state like Maharashtra, Manipur, Arunachal Pradesh, and Chhattisgarh are left with a small number of un-electrified households and expected to achieve saturation any time, added the ministry.
More than two crore electricity connections were released under Saubhagya and 100 per cent village electrification achieved under Deen Dayal Upadhyay Gram Jyoti Yojana (DDUGJY), the ministry said.
"Energy deficit reduced to almost zero and India emerges as a net exporter of electricity to Nepal, Bangladesh, and Myanmar," said the ministry, adding that India's rank improved to 24 in 2018 from 137 in 2014 on the World Bank's Ease of doing business-"Getting Electricity" Ranking
"Around 1,07,000 MW Generation Capacity has been added till October 2018 since April 2014. All India generation installed capacity has increased by 39.2 per cent from 2,48,554 MW as on 31.3.2014 to 3,46,048 MW as on 31.10.2018," said the ministry in the statement.
Under Ujwal DISCOM Assurance Yojana (UDAY) scheme, more than Rs 34,000 crore interest cost saved by distribution companies (DISCOMs) within two years, while the aggregate technical and commercial (AT&C) losses have come down to 18.76 per cent in FY18 as compared to 20.77 per cent in FY16.