Lucknow: Villages across Uttar Pradesh are now brightly illuminated, marking a transformative shift in rural infrastructure and economic activity. Once grappling with severe power shortages before 2017, rural regions of the state have witnessed significant progress under the government’s focused electrification drive.
Through the Deen Dayal Upadhyaya Gram Jyoti Yojana, transmission and distribution networks in rural areas were strengthened, dilapidated lines replaced, and new substations established. Subsequently, the Pradhan Mantri Sahaj Bijli Har Ghar Yojana ensured free electricity connections to millions of households, bringing power to every home.
Under the Revamped Distribution Sector Scheme (RDSS), further improvements are being undertaken, including line upgrades, installation of low-tension AB cables, transformer capacity enhancement, and rapid implementation of smart metering. These measures have significantly reduced low-voltage issues, curbed electricity theft, and improved supply reliability.
The rural electrification push has directly strengthened agriculture, dairy farming, cottage industries, and self-employment. Improved irrigation facilities have boosted crop yields, while uninterrupted power has enabled small enterprises such as flour mills, welding units, cold storages, and other micro-businesses to expand operations. Education and healthcare services have also improved, with schools and health centres no longer facing power disruptions.
In the proposed Budget 2026–27, ₹65,926 crore has been allocated for the power sector, reflecting continued commitment to infrastructure expansion.
By December 2025 (FY 2025–26), rural areas have been receiving an average of 20 hours of electricity daily, tehsil headquarters 22 hours, and district headquarters uninterrupted 24-hour supply. Since April 1, 2022, a total of 2,410 new 33/11 kV substations have been constructed or upgraded, along with the installation of 20,924 new distribution transformers and capacity augmentation of 85,684 transformers.
Experts believe that a robust power infrastructure will further strengthen the rural economy and lay a sustainable foundation for long-term development across the state.
