CAG to Convene National Power Sector Conference for Strategic Audit Planning
The Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) of India is set to organize a significant national-level conference on February 23, aimed at comprehensively reviewing recent trends in the country's power sector. This gathering will serve as a crucial platform to collect valuable inputs for shaping future audit strategies across the entire spectrum of power generation, transmission, and distribution. According to PTI reports, the event underscores the CAG's proactive approach to enhancing oversight in this vital economic domain.
High-Level Participation from Central and State Authorities
The daylong National Conference on Power Sector, scheduled to take place in the national capital, will bring together senior officials from both the central government and various state administrations. Key public sector power companies will also be represented, ensuring a holistic dialogue on emerging sectoral challenges and policy priorities. CAG K Sanjay Murthy will preside over the proceedings, lending his leadership to the discussions.
Notable attendees will include:
- The Secretary of the Ministry of Power
- The Secretary of the Ministry of New & Renewable Energy (MNRE)
- The Chairperson of the Central Electricity Regulatory Commission (CERC)
- The Chairperson of the Central Electricity Authority (CEA)
Additionally, the conference will see participation from the Chairmen and Managing Directors (CMDs) of major public sector undertakings such as NTPC, NHPC, SECI, PFC, Grid-India, and PGCIL. Power secretaries from various state governments, along with heads of selected state-owned power generation, transmission, and distribution utilities, will join these critical deliberations.
Objectives and Strategic Focus of the Conference
The CAG office has emphasized that the conference is designed to take into account the evolving landscape of the power sector, which includes crucial projects and the roles of both central and state governments in planning and regulation. Recent developments in the functions of power generation, transmission, and distribution have prompted the institution to organize this one-day All India Conference of Power Secretaries.
The primary goal is to shape audit strategies for different segments of the power sector through informed discussions. The event aims to provide a strategic platform for senior stakeholders to exchange views on sectoral challenges, with a particular focus on digitalization, renewable energy integration, and the financial sustainability of distribution companies (DISCOMs).
Background Paper Highlights India's Power Sector Transformation
A background paper prepared jointly by the CAG's office, the Indian Institute of Management Ahmedabad, and the Vasudha Foundation sheds light on the rapid transformation of India's electricity ecosystem over the past decade. It notes that the sector has achieved remarkable milestones, including doubling generation capacity, attaining universal electrification, transitioning into a net exporter of electricity, and moving towards near-zero outages.
India has also met its Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) target of achieving 50 percent non-fossil fuel capacity in 2025, accomplishing this goal five years ahead of schedule. As of December 2025, total installed power capacity stood at 514 GW, with 267 GW (52 percent) coming from non-fossil sources. Solar power alone accounted for 136 GW, representing 26 percent of the capacity mix.
These developments are seen as foundational to the Viksit Bharat vision, positioning the power sector as a central pillar for achieving a developed economy by 2047. The background paper further references the Draft National Electricity Policy 2026 (NEP 2026), released in January, which outlines a long-term roadmap for generation expansion, pricing reforms, distribution improvements, and grid management, while supporting India's net-zero target for 2070.
Future Projections and Strategic Advantages
The NEP 2026 proposes ambitious targets to increase per capita electricity consumption from the current 1,460 kWh to 2,000 kWh by 2030 and further to 4,000 kWh by 2047. The background paper concludes by emphasizing that clean energy represents India's strategic advantage, but this can only be fully realized if markets, finance, and institutions evolve in tandem. The upcoming CAG conference is poised to play a pivotal role in aligning audit practices with these dynamic sectoral shifts, ensuring robust governance and accountability in India's power infrastructure.
