More than 36 crore LED bulbs have been distributed across India over the past decade under the UJALA scheme, leading to annual savings of Rs 19,153 crore, the Ministry of Power said in a press release on Monday.

Launched on January 5, 2015, by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the UJALA scheme aims to provide affordable energy-efficient LED bulbs, tube lights, and fans to households using traditional lighting systems that consume more electricity and lead to high energy bills.

According to the ministry, the scheme has reduced annual household electricity bills, resulting in substantial financial savings for consumers.

Before the scheme, LED bulbs cost Rs 450-500 each. Under UJALA, consumers can now buy LED appliances at reduced prices: Rs 70 per LED bulb, Rs 220 per LED tube light, and Rs 1,110 per energy-efficient fan. These prices were achieved through competitive bidding, covering costs like manufacturing, distribution, awareness campaigns, annual maintenance, and administrative expenses.

UJALA has also contributed to reducing India’s carbon footprint, with an annual reduction of 3,87,84, 592 crore tonnes of CO2 emissions and energy savings of 47,883 million kWh.

Street Lighting National Programme (SLNP)

Alongside UJALA, the Street Lighting National Programme (SLNP) was launched to replace conventional streetlights with energy-efficient LED alternatives in both urban and rural areas.

As of January 6, 2025, more than 1.34 crore LED streetlights have been installed under SLNP, leading to annual energy savings of over 9,001 million units (MUs) and reducing peak demand by over 1,500 MW. Additionally, the program has cut CO2 emissions by 6.2 million tonnes per year, highlighting its impact on energy efficiency and environmental sustainability.