NEW DELHI: Govt wants to end imports of technology used to monitor and control India’s power grid by 2030, reducing dependence on foreign companies for systems that are critical to keeping electricity flowing across the country.A committee set up by Central Electricity Authority (CEA) to draw up a roadmap for this has found that local content in these Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) systems is below 20%. It has warned that dependence on proprietary foreign systems can pose risks if there are disruptions in global supply chains or access to technology, upgrades and technical support is restricted.SCADA systems form the digital backbone of the country’s load-dispatch network, linking power plants and substations with state, regional and national control centres. They allow grid operators to see what is happening across the network in real time and control equipment remotely.The committee found that software is the easier part of the transition: 36 of the 38 identified software modules can be developed domestically in the short term. But hardware, which accounts for about 75% of SCADA costs, will be a bigger challenge, with 16 of 25 key components expected to be ready for indigenous deployment within two years.Join conversationView All Comments →Share your thoughts in the commentsInsightfulAgreeDisagreeSkepticalConcerningPromisingWorth ReadingBig DevelopmentPost CommentBe respectful · TOI community guidelinesThe panel has also proposed establishing a dedicated testing platform within two years, including cyber-security validation. This would be followed by real-time pilots at load despatch centres, where indigenous systems would run in parallel with existing systems before being deployed across the grid.A senior power ministry official said the push is aimed not just at reducing imports but also at giving India greater control over the technology running its critical electricity infrastructure and reducing dependence on foreign vendors for upgrades and support.Get the latest India News and Live updates. Download the TOI app.About the AuthorAtul MathurAtul Mathur is a Senior Assistant Editor at The Times of India with over 27 years of experience in journalism. Based in Delhi, he has spent much of his career reporting on governance, public policy and politics, churning out researched, data-driven stories that impact daily lives. Atul is known for investigative depth and strong human-interest narratives as he strives to bring clarity and context to complex issues. He currently tracks the energy sector, writing on power, renewable energy, coal and mines.Read MoreEnd of ArticleFollow Us On Social MediaVideosSinger Mary Millben Hits Back Over ‘Anti-Modi’ Politics Over Mohan Bhagwat New York Event105 Indians Missing In Nepal Flash Floods; Tibet-Side Surge Leaves Eight Dead | Watch‘Big Reveal’ Or Big Scam? August 25 Insta Account Make Hype Sparks ₹8.5 Crore Scam Row’Hijab On Heads, Not Minds’: Owaisi Calls Allahabad High Court Ruling ‘Attack On Islam’‘Do We Need A 4th-Party Audit?’: PM Modi Raps Secretaries, Flags Quality Issues In Public ProjectsAhmedabad-Mumbai Bullet Train Cost Revised To Rs 2 Lakh Crore, Nearly 2x Of Original EstimateGovt Seeks 2 Years To Frame OBC Creamy Layer Criteria For PSU, Private Staff KidsPakistan Tried Chinese Satellites For Op Sindoor Evidence But Failed, Says Ex-CDS Anil ChauhanPak’s Nuke Storage Area Kirana Hills Hit In Op Sindoor? Ex-cds Anil Chauhan Reveals Shocking DetailsBihar BPSC Protest Explodes In Patna As Students Break Barricades, Police Use Water Cannons | Watch123PhotostoriesIntuition or fear? 5 ways to tell what your gut is really telling youPrincess Diana’s ‘Last Ring’ from Dodi Al-Fayed: The mystery behind the ‘Dis-moi Oui’ ringRaksha Bandhan 2026: 10 beautiful mehendi designs to elevate your Rakhi lookTired of lemons going dry or mouldy? Here’s how to store them the right wayOptical illusion personality test: What you spot first reveals whether you are an introvert or an extrovertFrom washing dishes for Rs 1,800 to being asked to return to work after a miscarriage and later being fired after pregnancy: When Smriti Irani opened up about her struggles5 jewellery gifts your sister will love showing off this Raksha BandhanWhat is skin cycling: Trend or science?What happens when you place tissue paper in an electric sandwich maker: 3 smart ways to clean itRaksha Bandhan 2026: Gift ideas for your sibling based on their birth number123Hot PicksSchool holidays todayBank holiday todayBSE holiday todayKerala name changeICSI CS june resultNEET UG 2026Sridhar VembuVenkata Narasamamba VasamsettyNEET PG 2026 admit cardTop TrendingAndhra Pradesh Woman Deportation CaseSuresh GowdaHyderabad AccidentIIT Delhi Student DeathBihar Dolphin NewsMumbai Airport DemolitionRam RahimDelhi Women AccidentKangana RanautMaharashtra Hill Tragedy
NEW DELHI: Govt wants to end imports of technology used to monitor and control India’s power grid by 2030, reducing dependence on foreign companies for systems that are critical to keeping electricity flowing across the country.A committee set up by Central Electricity Authority (CEA) to draw up a roadmap for this has found that local content in these Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) systems is below 20%. It has warned that dependence on proprietary foreign systems can pose risks if there are disruptions in global supply chains or access to technology, upgrades and technical support is restricted.SCADA systems form the digital backbone of the country’s load-dispatch network, linking power plants and substations with state, regional and national control centres. They allow grid operators to see what is happening across the network in real time and control equipment remotely.The committee found that software is the easier part of the transition: 36 of the 38 identified software modules can be developed domestically in the short term. But hardware, which accounts for about 75% of SCADA costs, will be a bigger challenge, with 16 of 25 key components expected to be ready for indigenous deployment within two years.
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The panel has also proposed establishing a dedicated testing platform within two years, including cyber-security validation. This would be followed by real-time pilots at load despatch centres, where indigenous systems would run in parallel with existing systems before being deployed across the grid.A senior power ministry official said the push is aimed not just at reducing imports but also at giving India greater control over the technology running its critical electricity infrastructure and reducing dependence on foreign vendors for upgrades and support.
