PIB Summary- 7th January, 2025 | Current Affairs & Hindu Analysis: Daily, Weekly & Monthly - UPSC PDF Download

UJALA: 10 Years of Energy-Efficient Lighting

Context

Launched on 5th January 2015, UJALA aimed to transform household lighting in India by offering affordable energy-efficient LED bulbs, tube lights, and fans.

Introduction and Purpose of UJALA

• Initially known as the Domestic Efficient Lighting Programme (DELP), it later became UJALA, focusing on energy conservation, reducing electrification costs, and cutting carbon emissions.
• Over the last decade, more than 36 crore LED bulbs have been distributed, making India the world’s largest zero-subsidy lighting program.

Need for UJALA and Energy Efficiency

• Traditional lighting systems in India consumed excessive electricity, leading to high costs for consumers. LEDs, offering significant energy savings compared to CFLs and ICLs, were identified as a key solution.
• Prior to UJALA, LED bulbs were expensive, with retail prices ranging from Rs 450-500, making them inaccessible to many.
• Under UJALA, LED bulbs were made available at a subsidized rate of Rs 70 per bulb, drastically reducing the cost and increasing adoption across households.
• LED bulbs use significantly less electricity, consuming just 1 unit for 140 hours, compared to 2 units for CFLs and 9 units for ICLs, resulting in lower energy bills.

UJALA’s Achievements and Impact

• As of 6th January 2025, UJALA has distributed over 36.87 crore LED bulbs, contributing to major reductions in energy consumption and electricity bills for millions of households.
• The program has increased transparency and efficiency through e-procurement and competitive bidding, reducing costs and enhancing market competition.
• Beyond economic savings, the scheme has helped India reduce its carbon footprint, contributing to the nation’s goals of energy conservation and climate change mitigation.

Street Lighting National Programme (SLNP)

• Launched on the same day as UJALA, the Street Lighting National Programme (SLNP) aimed to replace conventional streetlights with LED lights, reducing energy consumption and operational costs for municipalities.
• EESL, the implementing agency, collaborated with urban and rural local bodies to execute the program, relieving municipalities from upfront investment costs through a unique business model.
• By January 2025, SLNP had installed over 1.34 crore LED streetlights, saving 9,001 million units of electricity annually, reducing peak demand by 1,500 MW, and cutting CO₂ emissions by 6.2 million tonnes per year.

Conclusion

• UJALA and SLNP together exemplify the impact of government initiatives in promoting energy efficiency, reducing energy costs, and mitigating environmental damage.
• These programs have transformed India’s lighting sector, helping households and municipalities save costs while fostering a sustainable, energy-efficient future.