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12,396 MW of solar projects commissioned in 24 solar parks under the government’s Solar Parks and Ultra Mega Solar Power Projects scheme

India has installed 12,396 MW of solar capacity across 24 solar parks under the government’s Solar Parks and Ultra Mega Solar Power Projects scheme—just 31% of the total 39,958 MW sanctioned across 55 parks in 13 states. Over the past year, progress has slowed notably, with only 1,820 MW added, of which Madhya Pradesh alone contributed 1,313 MW. In contrast, Gujarat and Rajasthan—states with the highest sanctioned capacities—added just 100 MW and 176 MW, respectively.

According to the data presented in the Rajya Sabha by Hon’ble MoS for New & Renewable Energy, Shripad Yesso Naik, Andhra Pradesh leads installed capacity with 3,187 MW, followed by Rajasthan (2,741 MW), Madhya Pradesh (2,313 MW), and Karnataka (2,000 MW). These four states collectively account for over 82% of installed capacity under the scheme.

While Gujarat (11,150 MW) and Rajasthan (10,276 MW) have the largest sanctioned capacities, their low installed-to-sanctioned ratios (8.97% and 26.67%, respectively) contrast sharply with the strong performance of Andhra Pradesh (75.88%), Karnataka (80%), and Madhya Pradesh (62.01%).

The slowdown in solar park development hasn’t hampered India’s broader solar push, with national solar capacity recently surpassing 100 GW. This reflects a strategic shift. Falling solar costs since 2014 have empowered the private sector to scale up outside government-backed parks.

Consequently, solar parks now primarily serve regions facing land or infrastructure hurdles, often led by public sector units (PSUs), while private developers increasingly deploy large-scale solar independently.

India’s solar growth story is evolving—from centralized, state-supported mega parks to a more diversified, market-driven model. While the solar parks scheme remains essential for certain geographies, the rise of private sector participation marks a healthy maturation of the sector.