Prime Minister Narendra Modi extended his greetings on the occasion of the first International Solar Festival, emphasizing the event’s role in uniting the world to celebrate the sun’s impact and encourage global efforts towards building a better planet.
In a video message on his social media handle on X, the Prime Minister posted, “I am glad to welcome you all to the first International Solar Festival. I congratulate the International Solar Alliance for this wonderful initiative.”
The Prime Minister took the opportunity to highlight India’s significant progress in green energy over the past decade. “Our solar energy capacity increased 32-fold in the last 10 years,” PM said, adding that this rapid growth will contribute to India’s goal of achieving 500 Gigawatt non-fossil capacity by 2030.
PM emphasized that India’s advancements in the solar sector stem from a clear approach focused on awareness, availability, and affordability. He outlined how India has encouraged domestic manufacturing to increase awareness about sustainable energy sources and implemented specific schemes and incentives to make solar options more affordable.
The Prime Minister also shared details about recent policy interventions, including the PM Suryagarh Muft Bijli Yojana. “We are investing Rs 750 billion in this scheme. Our target is to help 10 million households to install their own roof of solar panels,” he said.
Reflecting on the cultural significance of the sun, PM Modi referenced ancient Vedic texts and the widespread reverence for the sun across various cultures. He said that India was the first G20 nation to achieve its Paris commitments in renewable energy, attributing this success largely to the remarkable growth in solar energy.
“The Vedas were texts composed thousands of years ago. One of the most popular mantras of the Vedas is about the Sun. Even today, millions of Indians chant it daily. Many cultures across the world have respected the sun in their own ways. Most regions also have festivals related to the sun,” he said.
The Prime Minister also highlighted the expansion of the International Solar Alliance, mentioning that 19 more countries are ratifying the framework agreement to attain full membership.
“Additionally, 19 more countries are ratifying the framework agreement for attaining full membership. The growth of this organisation is important for the vision of one World, one Sun. In the past few years, India has taken many massive strides in green energy. We were the first G20 nation to achieve the Paris commitments in renewable energy. The remarkable growth of solar energy is the key reason for making this possible,” he said.
(Inputs from ANI)
