Union Minister of Heavy Industries and Public Enterprises of India, H. D. Kumaraswamy, on Tuesday announced the approval of 1,243 electric vehicle (EV) chargers for Karnataka under the PM E-DRIVE scheme, with a financial outlay of Rs 123.26 crore, as Bengaluru hosted a national conference on strengthening India’s EV charging infrastructure.
Addressing the Conference on Enabling Nationwide EV Charging Infrastructure under the PM E-DRIVE Scheme in Bengaluru, Kumaraswamy said the city has emerged as one of India’s leading EV charging hubs and urged states to actively support the country’s transition towards clean mobility. He added that proposals worth Rs 503.86 crore have so far been approved for the installation of 4,874 EV chargers across various states and Central Public Sector Enterprises, including HPCL, IOCL and BPCL.
The minister said India was steadily progressing towards the vision of Viksit Bharat 2047 while remaining committed to achieving Net Zero emissions by 2070 under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. He noted that the automotive sector contributes over 7 per cent to India’s GDP, nearly half of manufacturing GDP, and supports close to 30 million livelihoods.
Highlighting the Centre’s efforts to strengthen the electric mobility ecosystem, Kumaraswamy referred to initiatives such as the Rs 18,100 crore PLI ACC scheme for battery cell manufacturing, the Rs 25,938 crore PLI Auto scheme promoting cleaner vehicles, and the recently launched Rs 7,280 crore REPM scheme for rare earth magnet manufacturing.
Calling the PM E-DRIVE scheme the cornerstone of India’s EV push, the minister said the Rs 10,900 crore initiative is accelerating the adoption of electric two-wheelers, three-wheelers, buses and trucks while also building a nationwide charging network. Of this, Rs 2,000 crore has been earmarked specifically for public EV charging infrastructure.
He also acknowledged the role of oil marketing companies such as BPCL, IOCL and HPCL in expanding charging infrastructure across the country. Under the FAME-II scheme, these companies have installed 8,932 EV chargers with subsidy support of Rs 873.5 crore from the Ministry of Heavy Industries, including 721 chargers in Karnataka.
Kumaraswamy further said the ministry is working on a National Unified EV Charging App, Unified Bharat e-Charge (UBC), which will allow EV users to discover, access and make payments across multiple charging networks through a single platform. Comparing its potential impact with UPI in digital payments, he said the platform would significantly improve the country’s EV charging ecosystem.
The minister said India’s EV infrastructure roadmap would focus on accessibility, affordability and reliability to ensure charging facilities are available across both urban and rural regions. Calling the transition a defining moment for India’s future, he said the EV movement was not just about infrastructure creation but also about reducing dependence on fossil fuels, improving energy security and building a sustainable future.
