VK News Today https://validator.w3.org/feed/docs/rss2.html ‘How is unelected minister continuing for over six months?’ SC raps Bihar govt Hyderabad techie killed in US road accident days before India trip PK is making a second attempt to establish himself as an electoral force by staking his claim in the Bankipur bypoll NEW DELHI: Will Bihar’s Bankipur stand with the BJP, as it has over the years, or will it give Prashant Kishor a victory on debut? Or, will Tejashwi Yadav’s RJD will finally have something to cheer about? The fate of the three key contenders in the crucial byelection have been sealed in EVM machines and the people’s verdict will be known on August 3, when the votes are counted. So, what made this by-election grab so much of national attention?The Bankipur bypoll was necessitated after Nitin Nabin, who represented the urban Patna seat for nearly two decades, resigned from Bihar assembly to become a member of Rajya Sabha. This followed his elevation as BJP president earlier this year. The Bankipur seat has been a BJP bastion for over three decades with Nitin Nabin’s family winning from the constituency for over 35 years. Before Nitin Nabin, the constituency was represented by his father Nabin Kishore Prasad Sinha. And that explains why winning today’s election is so important for the BJP.But what could have been a cakewalk for BJP and its chief Nitin Nabin was turned into a formidable challenge with the entry of election strategist turned politician Prashant Kishor in the election arena. Kishor’s entry made today’s election a three-cornered contest. For Prashant Kishor, whose party Jan Suraj was outrightly rejected by the people of the state in the assembly elections last year, this bypoll is a litmus test. Kishor, who has scripted success stories of several parties and leaders as an election-strategist, would hope that the people of Bankipur would give his political career a much-needed boost.And finally the RJD, the third pole of this electoral battle, would desperately hope that the people of Bankipur would have voted today for a change. The RJD, which was literally decimated by the ruling NDA in the 2025 assembly elections, will be keen to prove a political point.Polling concluded with a voter turnout of 34.16 per cent among the nearly 3.8 lakh eligible electors, with counting of votes scheduled for August 3.As expected, the polling today was marked by allegations and counter allegations. Both Prashant Kishor and RJD candidate Rekha Gupta trained their guns at the BJP. Prashant Kishore alleged that more than 30 of his party workers had been arrested during polling and accused the police administration of acting “completely one-sidedly” to intimidate voters and help the BJP. “In an organised manner, wherever people of Jan Suraaj have set up tables, these people are taking them away. Across entire Bankipur, it’s evident that it’s not the BJP contesting this bypoll but the police force. People are being intimidated right from the night by going to their homes; some are being arrested,” he said.RJD candidate Rekha Gupta accused BJP workers of violating the Model Code of Conduct by allegedly attempting to influence voters at polling stations. “The BJP has hatched a conspiracy. All the polling agents have been given BJP ID cards,” Gupta alleged, while urging the election authorities to take note of the matter,” she said.The BJP rubbished these charges and instead accused that Jan Suraaj Party workers were “attempting to cast fraudulent votes” in the Bankipur assembly bypoll and urged the Election Commission to strengthen verification of electors. BJP state general secretary Nitin Abhishek wrote a letter to the returning officer of the assembly, claiming that such practices undermine the fundamental principles of democracy.”It has come to our notice that representatives and workers associated with the Jan Suraaj Party are attempting to compromise the integrity of the polling process by attempting to cast fraudulent/fake votes in the Bankipur bypoll,” the BJP said in the letter.Why Bankipur is being watched closelyBypolls, anywhere in the country, attract little interest. For the NDA, which won 202 out of 243 seats in the assembly elections, the result of one seat should hardly matter.However, this bypoll is the first election after Samrat Choudhary took over the chief ministerial post from Nitish Kumar.The assembly election was fought with the NDA projecting Nitish as its chief ministerial face. However, Nitish resigned from the top post to take up a Rajya Sabha seat, handing over the reins to Choudhary.The Bankipur bypoll offers the first electoral test of public approval for Choudhary as chief minister.Realising the importance of the seat, the BJP left little to chance in Bankipur. The party mobilised an entire roster of NDA ministers, former ministers, MPs and MLAs to campaign for its candidate, Neeraj Kumar Sinha.Former chief minister Nitish Kumar also joined the campaign through a video appeal, urging voters to support the BJP candidate. On the ground, the party kept up a hectic schedule of bike rallies, Adhivakta Samwad, Chikitsa Samwad, roadshows and door-to-door outreach in an effort to consolidate support.Bankipur’s caste composition also makes the bypoll an interesting contest. The constituency has nearly 3.8 lakh voters, with Kayasths and Yadavs together making up around 25 per cent of the electorate.The BJP has traditionally enjoyed strong support among Kayasths. Muslims and Chandravanshis together account for nearly 20 per cent of voters, while Vaishyas, Dalits, Bhumihars, Rajputs, Brahmins, Kurmis and Kushwahas each constitute between 3 per cent and 8 per cent of the electorate.Tough road for BJP?Prashant Kishor’s political gambit, along with developments such as Bharat Tiwari’s encounter and the recent student protests in Patna, has made the bypoll harder for the BJP than the party initially anticipated.The first setback came even before the campaign gathered pace. The BJP’s initial candidate, Abhishek Kumar Sinha, withdrew from the contest after reports emerged that a close family member had been convicted in the fodder scam.The BJP later replaced him with 32-year-old Neeraj Kumar Sinha after the party’s Central Election Committee approved his candidature.Another challenge for the ruling party is the reported resentment among sections of the upper-caste community following the June encounter of Bharat Tiwari.Tiwari was killed during a standoff with the police and Special Task Force personnel on June 17. In the aftermath, chief minister Samrat Choudhary met Tiwari’s family and assured them of a transparent investigation, the preservation of evidence and strict action against those found guilty.The recent student unrest has added another dimension to the campaign. Bankipur is home to several colleges, universities and coaching institutes, making students a significant voting bloc in the constituency.Large student protests over issues such as employment, education and alleged irregularities in competitive examinations have heightened political engagement among young voters.Police action during some of these demonstrations also attracted widespread attention on social media, ensuring that education, jobs and governance remain central themes in the bypoll campaign.Both Kishor and RJD working president Tejashwi Yadav blamed Samrat Choudhary for the action against protesters.The state government, too, was quick to respond. After a Bihar bandh called by Left-wing student unions on July 25, police detained close to 700 protesters, of whom nearly half were let off after they turned out to be minors.While talking to The Times of India, political analyst Kumar Vijay predicted a tough contest on July 30.”BJP initially thought this election would be fairly easy. Perhaps that’s why it made a mistake in choosing its candidate. And when the second candidate was chosen, he too appeared to be a potentially weak opponent to Prashant Kishor, despite the constituency having several prominent leaders to choose from,” Vijay said.”But now BJP is seeing this contest turn tight. That’s why it has fielded 50 star campaigners for a single bypoll. And wherever these leaders have gone to campaign, they have faced opposition. This did not happen earlier,” he told TOI.He added that if Prashant Kishor manages to consolidate Muslim, Yadav, women and fringe voters, it could spell trouble for the BJP.”It is time for the BJP to reconsider its strategy, way of working and decision-making process,” he added.Meanwhile, BJP state vice-president Santosh Pathak asserted that the party would easily win the bypoll. Although he acknowledged resentment among upper-caste voters, he claimed that they would ultimately vote for the BJP on July 30.”Prashant Kishor’s entry has only added glamour to the election. Beyond that, there is nothing new about this contest. This time too, we will win by a good margin,” Pathak said while talking to The Times of India.”There is some resentment among Brahmins and Bhumihars, but they will still vote for the BJP. Bankipur is a backward-oriented seat. The people creating all the buzz are not voters of this assembly constituency,” he added.Why it’s an all-at-stake contest for PKDescribing the contest as a “referendum” on the two-month-old BJP-led NDA government in Bihar, Prashant sought to transform what would ordinarily have been a local bypoll into one of the state’s most closely watched electoral battles.”The upcoming by-election is going to be a referendum on the working of the two-month-old government of Samrat Choudhary,” Prashant had said after announcing his candidature.”If the BJP wins, I will have no hesitation in conceding that the saffron party continues to enjoy public support. If we win, it shall be for them to read the writing on the wall,” he added.Despite several prominent leaders leaving Jan Suraaj, Kishor remained visible through mohalla meetings, adda baithaks, chai baithaks, padyatras, interactions with intellectuals and Jan Samwad programmes.However, the bypoll is also a test of Kishor’s own political project.A victory would give Jan Suraaj its first electoral breakthrough and help the party carve out political space in Bihar.A defeat, however, would make the road to revival even harder for the party. With no major election scheduled in Bihar before the 2029 Lok Sabha polls, the stakes could hardly be higher.Challenge for RJDThis bypoll carries almost as much weight for the RJD, which put in a lacklustre show in the assembly elections and is now keen to keep its Muslim-Yadav vote bank from eroding. At the same time, Prashant Kishor’s rising profile, even if symbolic for now and confined to a single seat, poses a different kind of threat: the RJD cannot afford to cede its place as the principal challenger to the BJP.That dilemma captures the existential challenge confronting Tejashwi Yadav’s party. Should Jan Suraaj emerge as the leading anti-BJP force in Bankipur, it would inevitably chip away at the RJD’s standing as Bihar’s primary opposition party.The RJD has fielded Rekha Gupta, also known as Rekha Kumari, for the bypoll. She had contested the same seat in the November 2025 assembly polls, where she secured close to 47,000 votes.What the opinion poll saysAn opinion poll by VoteVibe suggests that the BJP retains the upper hand in Bankipur, but Prashant Kishor’s entry has transformed what was once seen as a one-sided contest.The survey projects the BJP to secure 44.9 per cent of the vote, comfortably ahead of Jan Suraaj at 33.8 per cent, while the RJD is estimated to finish a distant third with 17.8 per cent.The RJD appears to have suffered the biggest setback. According to the poll, its vote share is projected to decline from 29.8 per cent in the 2025 assembly polls to 17.8 per cent in Bankipur.The Bankipur bypoll has all the makings of a David and Goliath contest, though it is not entirely clear who fits which role. The BJP appears to be the giant. It has held the seat continuously since 1995, is backed by the resources of the ruling government and has deployed 50 star campaigners for a single bypoll.Join conversationView All Comments →Share your thoughts in the commentsInsightfulAgreeDisagreeSkepticalConcerningPromisingWorth ReadingBig DevelopmentPost CommentBe respectful · TOI community guidelinesYet the party enters the contest on the defensive after replacing its initial candidate and grappling with discontent among sections of its traditional upper-caste support base.PK, by contrast, looks like David, a challenger with no seats to his name and a party still finding its feet after last year’s washout. But he carries the slingshot of celebrity, momentum from Bihar’s student protests and a campaign built entirely around unseating the giant.Get the latest India News and Live updates. Download the TOI app.About the AuthorRohitashwa RanjanRohitashwa Ranjan is a digital journalist with The Times of India, where he decodes Indian politics as a carefully staged production with scripts, subtext and everything behind. His stories track elections, party dynamics and the things that often are buried beneath the headlines. When not parsing vote shares or alliances, he is usually reading between the lines, where the real story tends to reside.Read MoreEnd of ArticleFollow Us On Social MediaVideos‘Cut Shudra’s Tongue If…’: Kharge Quotes ‘Translated Manusmriti’ In RS; Sudhanshu, Nadda Hit BackAssam Flood Death Toll Rises To 78 As Over Three Lakh Remain Affected Despite Receding WatersHockey India’s Saffron Jersey Sparks Massive Row As Olympians, Critics Question Iconic Blue IdentitySonam Wangchuk Praises Vande Bharat Train; Reminds Govt To Honour Vow Made To Protesting Students₹28.5 Cr Cash Seized In Birbhum: Former Govt Bus Driver Arrested | Tulu Mondal Link Under ProbeMamata Banerjee Urges EC To End TMC Symbol Dispute As Rival Faction Misses Repeated DeadlinesSC Questions Blanket Ban On Pellet Guns, Orders Preservation Of RAF Ammunition LogOver 1 Lakh Schools Across India Have Only One Teacher; Andhra Pradesh Records Highest NumberStudent Allegedly Hacks IIT Kanpur- IIT Madras Websites After Admission RejectionAbhijeet Dipke Says PM Modi Should “Become An Influencer”, Warns Of Fresh Student Protest123PhotostoriesSobhita Dhulipala to Aditi Rao Hydari: Celebrity Showstoppers who lit up India Couture Week 202610 baby names inspired by Celtic legendsOptical illusion personality test: What you see first reveals your hidden superpowers and weaknesses5 things difficult people teach you that kind people never canNTR to Prabhas, Ranbir Kapoor: 10 actors who portrayed Lord Ram on the silver screenWhen every negative pregnancy test hurts a little more: Doctors explain why fertility burnout is becoming the hidden mental health crisis nobody talks aboutWhy every designer suddenly had a ‘story’ and not just a collection at the India Couture Week 2026From ‘Insidious: Out Of The Further’ to ‘Mutiny’: Hollywood releases of August 20265 plants people grow for luck, that have better practical benefits that many probably haven’t heard aboutMyths vs facts: Is shaving facial hair bad for women?123Hot PicksAugust School HolidaysNHL Trade RumorsKerala Engineering rank listBhagat SinghByelection todayFranz KafkaFed meetingKanwar Yatra securityNew anti-paper leak billTop TrendingTamil Nadu Schools New MealMitch JonesNanakdin Bhurji DeathSonam RaghuvanshiNagpur MurderGujarat MurderHardoi Double SuicideMohammad Ali Jauhar University demolitionWeather TomorrowStock Market Up Dilip Mahadu Gavit education and career: From a farmer’s son to India’s first male Commonwealth para athletics champion Dorinda Medley spent years walking across land she thought belonged to someone else; a survey revealed it was part of Blue Stone Manor, and 3.69 acres are now listed for $1.2 million ‘You need to go home’: Canada leader reacts to protesting Indian student of Portage College, says ‘our view is that…’ US stock market today: Wall Street flat; Nasdaq climbs over 1.5% as tech stocks rally ‘Jana Nayagan’ star Pooja Hegde debuts chic new haircut in dreamy Budapest vacation photos, netizens shower love 7 Fast-growing plants that provide natural shade and keep your home cool | The ‘fire-breathing dragon of clouds’ over France: When a wildfire creates its own weather Saudi Arabia’s one-year multiple-entry Umrah visa explained: 90-day stay, eligibility and how to apply Jul 30, 2026, 19:54 IST Tom Holland’s Evolution Drives Spider-Man’s Most Introspective Chapter Yet 10 baby names inspired by Celtic legends From LPG to Rabi fertilisers: PM Modi reviews Middle East crisis preparedness From 1990 to 2020, China gained 447,500 sq km of planted forest but lost 219,100 sq km of natural forest; by 2020, only 9.6% remained fully intact ‘My favourite Test batting partner’: Virat Kohli hails Ajinkya Rahane after retirement ‘Uncompetitive’: Months after IndiGo flights fiasco, airline MD criticises new pilot duty rules 'Love Island UK' couples who are still together in love What you see first reveals your hidden superpowers and weaknesses US signs mega $58.6bn deal for Patriot missiles as stock runs low amid Iran war Months away from graduation, Indian student sent back home by CBP after phone check, claims viral post Jul 30, 2026, 19:36 IST SAMS Odisha +3 round 3 merit list 2026 out: Check direct link to download here Who plays Lord Vishnu in Ranbir Kapoor, Yash and Sai Pallavi’s ‘Ramayana Part 1’? Fans think they spotted Sourabh Raaj Jain Japanese bento vs Indian tiffin: The fascinating differences behind two iconic lunch traditions | August 2026 Numerology: These Birth Dates and Mulanks Will Attract Massive Luck Chennai court sentences Chhota Rajan to seven years’ imprisonment in fake passport case Protest against NEET UG paper leak was held at Jantar Mantar (ANI images) NEW DELHI: NEET-UG 2026 was compromised after the same set of individuals was entrusted with both question-setting and translation, exposing a key procedural lapse.The teachers entrusted with setting and translating the NEET-UG 2026 question paper allegedly memorised the final questions, reconstructed them from memory and shared them with a select group of students attending their private coaching classes, PTI cited as sources revealed.The paper setters — chemistry teacher P V Kulkarni, physics teacher Manisha Gurunath Mandhare and biology teacher Manisha Sanjay Havaldar — were responsible for both preparing the question paper and translating it into Marathi, giving them prolonged access to the final version ahead of the May 3 examination.Although the experts were kept in a sanitised environment during the paper preparation process, they were allowed to return home each day, the statement reads. During this period, they allegedly reconstructed the questions from memory and shared them with a select group of students, marking them as “very important” without revealing they were from the upcoming NEET examination.CBI may recommend changesInvestigators said the questions later spread beyond the coaching classes after local beautician Manisha Waghmare allegedly obtained the reconstructed question bank from some students. She allegedly typed the questions into a paper-like format and sold them to Dhananjay Nivrutti Lokhande, who circulated them through a network of middlemen across multiple states in exchange for lakhs of rupees.Join conversationView All Comments →Share your thoughts in the commentsInsightfulAgreeDisagreeSkepticalConcerningPromisingWorth ReadingBig DevelopmentPost CommentBe respectful · TOI community guidelinesThe agency has informally conveyed the issue to the National Testing Agency (NTA) and is likely to recommend separating the two responsibilities in its formal recommendations.The incident came into light after one aspirant received the purported question paper and alerted the NTA, which cancelled the NEET-UG 2026 examination on May 12.The Union education ministry subsequently handed the probe to the CBI, which arrested 13 people, including the three subject experts, Waghmare, coaching institute associates and alleged middlemen.Get the latest India News and Live updates. Download the TOI app.End of ArticleFollow Us On Social MediaVideosSonam Wangchuk Praises Vande Bharat Train; Reminds Govt To Honour Vow Made To Protesting Students₹28.5 Cr Cash Seized In Birbhum: Former Govt Bus Driver Arrested | Tulu Mondal Link Under ProbeMamata Banerjee Urges EC To End TMC Symbol Dispute As Rival Faction Misses Repeated DeadlinesSC Questions Blanket Ban On Pellet Guns, Orders Preservation Of RAF Ammunition LogOver 1 Lakh Schools Across India Have Only One Teacher; Andhra Pradesh Records Highest NumberStudent Allegedly Hacks IIT Kanpur- IIT Madras Websites After Admission RejectionAbhijeet Dipke Says PM Modi Should “Become An Influencer”, Warns Of Fresh Student Protest‘Vasteguna Huiya, Kuchu-Puchu, FOMO’: Viral Gen Z Vocabulary Echoes In ParliamentBihar Man Claims He Was Booked In NEET Leak Protest Viral Video Sparks Questions Over Protest FIRs’Dear Saurav…’ BJP MP Kangana Ranaut Tells CJP’s Saurav Das To ‘Learn Some Skill’ | Watch123Photostories10 baby names inspired by Celtic legendsOptical illusion personality test: What you see first reveals your hidden superpowers and weaknesses5 things difficult people teach you that kind people never canNTR to Prabhas, Ranbir Kapoor: 10 actors who portrayed Lord Ram on the silver screenWhen every negative pregnancy test hurts a little more: Doctors explain why fertility burnout is becoming the hidden mental health crisis nobody talks aboutWhy every designer suddenly had a ‘story’ and not just a collection at the India Couture Week 2026From ‘Insidious: Out Of The Further’ to ‘Mutiny’: Hollywood releases of August 20265 plants people grow for luck, that have better practical benefits that many probably haven’t heard aboutMyths vs facts: Is shaving facial hair bad for women?5 times Kangana Ranaut made traditional sarees look unapologetically powerful123Hot PicksAugust School HolidaysNHL Trade RumorsKerala Engineering rank listBhagat SinghByelection todayFranz KafkaFed meetingKanwar Yatra securityNew anti-paper leak billTop TrendingTamil Nadu Schools New MealMitch JonesNanakdin Bhurji DeathSonam RaghuvanshiNagpur MurderGujarat MurderHardoi Double SuicideMohammad Ali Jauhar University demolitionWeather TomorrowStock Market Up 15 elephants suspected to have died after eating pesticide-sprayed tomatoes near Kenya’s Amboseli National Park | World News ‘Ramayana’ star Yash’s first gift to wife Radhika Pandit wasn’t flowers or jewellery but an unusual and thoughtful gesture In 2021, a California teacher arrived in Portugal with four suitcases and her dog; five years later, she owns two apartments and is applying for citizenship | Delhi govt’s CJP stir order: What it means for protesters, police and 2,800 others California Rattlesnake Bite: California woman Linda Martin was trimming roses barefoot when a rattlesnake bit her; within 45 seconds tingling reached her jaw and tongue, and three failed 911 calls forced her husband to drive her to hospital Jul 30, 2026, 18:52 IST From ayurveda to insurance: Patanjali gets IRDAI nod for Rs 4,500 crore insurance entry John Abraham was ready to return ‘Garam Masala’ fee, was “Sweating” doing comedy reveals Akshay Kumar This Indian city is called the Golden City, but the reason has nothing to do with gold The 16,000-year-old Pando appears to be a forest, but scientists say all 47,000 trees belong to a single living organism Who was Billy Ray Smith Jr.? Inside the Chargers legend’s remarkable NFL career, family life, broadcasting journey, and death at 64 In 1600, Oaken Wood was already an established English woodland; in 2026 Kent proposed quarrying 41 hectares for stone used in historic buildings For decades, India’s energy challenge could be simply summed up: build more capacity. More coal, more transmission lines, more renewable energy. Solar, in particular, became the poster child of the country’s clean energy ambitions.Now, success has created a new problem.Across India’s vast solar parks, electricity is increasingly generated faster than the grid can absorb it. Panels continue to harvest abundant sunshine, but not every electron finds a home.It is an irony few would have predicted a decade ago.India’s solar revolution is no longer constrained primarily by a lack of generation capacity. It is increasingly constrained by the ability to move, store and use the electricity it produces.That paradox, producing too much clean electricity at the wrong time, could define the next phase of India’s energy transition.From solar laggard to powerhouseIndia’s solar story has been one of the country’s most remarkable infrastructure transformations.India gets 250–300 sunny days a year in most parts of the country, with solar insolation of 4–7 kWh per square metre per day. A recent working paper by the Economic Advisory Council to the Prime Minister (EAC-PM) says India’s installed solar capacity has expanded from just 3 GW in 2014 to around 157 GW by May 2026.Solar has emerged as the largest contributor within India’s renewable energy portfolio, overtaking other clean energy sources in installed capacity, according to the Press Information Bureau (PIB).The country now ranks third globally in installed solar capacity, according to the Renewable Energy Statistics 2026, reflecting how rapidly India has scaled deployment.This growth has helped transform India’s wider electricity system.As of October 2025, non-fossil fuel sources accounted for more than half of India’s installed electricity capacity, another milestone highlighted by the PIB.The expansion also underpins India’s Panchamrit commitments announced at COP26, including achieving 500 GW of non-fossil electricity capacity by 2030 and ultimately reaching net-zero emissions by 2070.Yet the country’s greatest solar success has also exposed its weakest link.The paradoxThe warning signs are becoming increasingly difficult to ignore.According to a written reply in Parliament by minister of state for Renewable Energy Shripad Yesso Naik, India curtailed 8,133 gigawatt-hours (GWh) of solar electricity during the April–June period because the grid could not absorb all the renewable power being generated.The curtailment rose from 2,417 GWh in April to 3,235 GWh in May before easing slightly to 2,481 GWh in June, according to government data reported by Reuters.The government attributed the restrictions to grid security requirements and a mismatch between renewable energy projects coming online ahead of the transmission infrastructure needed to evacuate that power.In effect, India is generating clean electricity that cannot always be delivered to consumers.The problem is not confined to isolated projects. Government data also show that around 21 GW of renewable energy capacity is currently connected through temporary transmission arrangements, while another 12 GW cannot inject full power into the grid because of transmission constraints.Why more solar can stress the gridAt first glance, the situation seems counterintuitive.How can a country simultaneously require more renewable energy while asking existing solar plants to reduce output?The answer lies in how electricity systems function.Solar generation peaks around midday, when sunshine is strongest.Electricity demand, however, often reaches its highest point after sunset, precisely when solar output begins to fall.The result is a widening mismatch between when electricity is generated and when it is most needed.The EAC-PM working paper argues that India’s electricity challenge has fundamentally changed. “The active constraint for the grid has shifted from generation capacity to flexibility,” the report says.The paper describes India’s increasingly pronounced “duck curve,” a phenomenon seen in many high-renewable electricity systems where solar generation creates a deep trough in daytime demand from conventional power plants, followed by a steep evening surge once the sun sets.The transformation has been rapid.Between May 2023 and May 2026, the evening net-load ramp nearly doubled, from about 36 GW to 74 GW, while the morning decline as solar flooded the grid almost tripled, from 18 GW to 53 GW, according to the EAC-PM analysis.What is driving itThe surge has been driven by a combination of ambitious policy support and falling solar costs.Government flagship programmes such as PM Surya Ghar: Muft Bijli Yojana aim to install rooftop solar systems in one crore households. By December 2025, 23.9 lakh households had already installed rooftop systems with around 7 GW of capacity, while more than Rs 13,464 crore had been released as subsidies, according to the PIB.Meanwhile, the Production Linked Incentive (PLI) scheme for high-efficiency solar PV modules, with a total outlay of Rs 24,000 crore, seeks to build domestic manufacturing capacity and reduce import dependence.India has also accelerated utility-scale solar parks and expanded renewable procurement through competitive bidding.The result has been unprecedented capacity addition. According to NITI Aayog’s India Climate and Energy Dashboard, renewable energy capacity increased from 58 GW in 2020–21 to around 283 GW by May 2026, with solar alone contributing approximately 157 GW.The grid is changing fastElectricity demand itself is rising at remarkable speed.According to the Central Electricity Authority (CEA), peak demand increased from 190 GW in 2020–21 to around 250 GW in 2024–25, while annual electricity requirement rose from 1,276 billion units to 1,694 billion units over the same period.The trend has continued.On May 21, 2026, India’s grid recorded its highest-ever demand, touching 270.8 GW, according to the EAC-PM.Yet that same day revealed another striking reality.Electricity traded on the Indian Energy Exchange cleared at just Rs 1.56 per unit at 1 pm, when solar generation flooded the grid. By 6.30 pm, after sunset, prices had surged to the market ceiling of Rs 10 per unit.India is not short of electricity during the day. It is short of flexibility after dark.Another hurdle lies in India’s domestic manufacturing ecosystem. Even as the government pushes for self-reliance in solar equipment, manufacturers are struggling with shortages of locally made solar cells.According to Reuters, nearly one-third of India’s small and medium-sized solar module manufacturers have halted production, while others have cut operating days because of waiting periods of up to eight months for domestic cells. With India still relying on China for around 95% of its solar cell imports, the supply crunch threatens to slow capacity expansion and raise production costs, exposing the gap between policy ambition and manufacturing readiness.Will the boom continue?Almost certainly.India’s clean energy targets remain among the world’s most ambitious, and policy momentum shows little sign of slowing. The challenge, however, is shifting from building generation assets to building an electricity system capable of handling them.Flattening even half of a typical summer evening demand ramp would require around 130 GWh of battery discharge, far exceeding India’s present storage capability.While pumped hydro projects have advanced steadily, battery deployment remains well behind projections. Recent additions have raised battery energy storage capacity to around 2.7 GW, but a substantial gap remains.Join conversationView All Comments →Share your thoughts in the commentsInsightfulAgreeDisagreeSkepticalConcerningPromisingWorth ReadingBig DevelopmentPost CommentBe respectful · TOI community guidelinesRecognising this, proposed amendments to the Electricity Act and consumer rules seek to formally integrate energy storage into India’s power system, deepen electricity markets, strengthen non-fossil obligations and accelerate time-of-day tariffs, all intended to improve grid flexibility.The next chapterIndia’s solar journey is, in many ways, a victim of its own success.The next decade of India’s energy transition will be defined less by the number of panels installed than by the intelligence of the grid behind them. Transmission lines, batteries, storage technologies, flexible markets and smarter demand management will determine whether India’s abundant sunshine translates into reliable clean power.Get the latest India News and Live updates. Download the TOI app.About the AuthorSubhadra SrivastavaSubhadra Srivastava is a journalist with The Times of India, covering geopolitics, international and national affairs. With over three years of experience, she focuses on national and global developments, conflict, diplomacy and their impact on India. Her work combines breaking news with in-depth analysis, offering readers context and clarity on the stories shaping the world.Read MoreEnd of ArticleFollow Us On Social MediaVideos₹28.5 Cr Cash Seized In Birbhum: Former Govt Bus Driver Arrested | Tulu Mondal Link Under ProbeMamata Banerjee Urges EC To End TMC Symbol Dispute As Rival Faction Misses Repeated DeadlinesSC Questions Blanket Ban On Pellet Guns, Orders Preservation Of RAF Ammunition LogOver 1 Lakh Schools Across India Have Only One Teacher; Andhra Pradesh Records Highest NumberStudent Allegedly Hacks IIT Kanpur- IIT Madras Websites After Admission RejectionAbhijeet Dipke Says PM Modi Should “Become An Influencer”, Warns Of Fresh Student Protest‘Vasteguna Huiya, Kuchu-Puchu, FOMO’: Viral Gen Z Vocabulary Echoes In ParliamentBihar Man Claims He Was Booked In NEET Leak Protest Viral Video Sparks Questions Over Protest FIRs’Dear Saurav…’ BJP MP Kangana Ranaut Tells CJP’s Saurav Das To ‘Learn Some Skill’ | Watch’Detaining Activists Is Normal’: JP Nadda Defends Police Crackdown On CJP Protesters123Photostories5 things difficult people teach you that kind people never canNTR to Prabhas, Ranbir Kapoor: 10 actors who portrayed Lord Ram on the silver screenWhen every negative pregnancy test hurts a little more: Doctors explain why fertility burnout is becoming the hidden mental health crisis nobody talks aboutWhy every designer suddenly had a ‘story’ and not just a collection at the India Couture Week 2026From ‘Insidious: Out Of The Further’ to ‘Mutiny’: Hollywood releases of August 20265 plants people grow for luck, that have better practical benefits that many probably haven’t heard aboutMyths vs facts: Is shaving facial hair bad for women?5 times Kangana Ranaut made traditional sarees look unapologetically powerful8 Healthy high-protein breakfasts that take 15 minutes or less’Love Island UK’ couples who are still together in love: From Olivia Buckland-Alex Bowen to Jessie Wynter-Will Young123Hot PicksAugust School HolidaysNHL Trade RumorsKerala Engineering rank listBhagat SinghByelection todayFranz KafkaFed meetingKanwar Yatra securityNew anti-paper leak billTop TrendingTamil Nadu Schools New MealMitch JonesNanakdin Bhurji DeathSonam RaghuvanshiNagpur MurderGujarat MurderHardoi Double SuicideMohammad Ali Jauhar University demolitionWeather TomorrowStock Market Up ‘Jana Nayagan’ editor Pradeep E Ragav on the film’s piracy leak: ‘I still haven’t gotten over the incident’ New study suggests many dinosaurs may have died within hours, not months, after the asteroid struck Earth No further action against CJP protesters, Delhi govt says; criminal antecedents excluded 4 migrants die attempting to cross English Channel on overloaded ‘taxi boats’ . Lok Sabha passes Vande Mataram Bill amid opposition protests over NEET paper leak and alleged police action on students.Over 200 academicians write to Priyanka Gandhi, objecting to her remarks on IIT Madras director V Kamakoti.Nitin Gadkari says E20 fuel may reduce mileage by up to 6%, but tests found no engine failures linked to ethanol blendingHockey India explains saffron World Cup jersey, citing better visibility on blue turf and national symbolismIran claims it destroyed three US F-35 fighter jets in Jordan; Washington has not confirmed the claim.Here are top five news stories: Lok Sabha passes Vande Mataram Bill as opposition protestsParliament remained disrupted as the Lok Sabha passed the Prevention of Insults to National Honour (Amendment) Bill, 2026, extending legal protection to Vande Mataram.The opposition protested over the alleged police action against student protesters and demanded home minister Amit Shah’s resignation. Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge criticised the government’s handling of the NEET paper leak and called for broader education reforms. Read full story Watch ₹28.5 Cr Cash Seized In Birbhum: Former Govt Bus Driver Arrested | Tulu Mondal Link Under Probe’Mockery is no substitute for reasoned engagement’: Oer 200 academicians write to Priyanka GandhiMore than 200 academicians have written an open letter to Congress MP Priyanka Gandhi Vadra objecting to her remarks, widely seen as targeting IIT Madras director Prof V Kamakoti during the Lok Sabha debate on the anti-paper leak Bill.The signatories said Parliament should encourage reasoned debate rather than ridicule and argued that reducing a scholar to a label undermines scientific temper. They highlighted Kamakoti’s academic achievements and contributions to research, urging public representatives to challenge ideas with evidence instead of personal remarks that discourage academic participation in public discourse. Read full storyE20 petrol may cut mileage by up to 6%, but no engine failures found: GadkariUnion minister Nitin Gadkari informed Parliament that petrol blended with 20% ethanol (E20) can reduce vehicle fuel efficiency by 2% to 6%, depending on the vehicle and its age. However, extensive testing by ARAI, SIAM and Indian Oil found no evidence of engine failures linked to E20 fuel.Gadkari said the fuel improves acceleration, ride quality and reduces carbon emissions by around 30%. He added that India’s ethanol blending programme has been implemented gradually with scientific validation and manufacturers continue to honour warranty claims for E20-compatible vehicles. Read full storyIndia’s hockey teams will wear saffron instead of blue at the 2026 World CupHockey India has defended its decision to replace the traditional blue jersey with saffron for the men’s and women’s teams at the 2026 FIH Hockey World Cup. The federation said the move was driven by technical concerns, as blue jerseys blended with modern blue synthetic pitches, affecting player visibility.Coaches and players suggested alternative colours before saffron was selected. Hockey India also said saffron symbolises courage and national pride as one of the colours of the Indian flag. Former captain Viren Rasquinha criticised the decision, saying blue remains part of India’s hockey identity. Join conversationView All Comments →Share your thoughts in the commentsInsightfulAgreeDisagreeSkepticalConcerningPromisingWorth ReadingBig DevelopmentPost CommentBe respectful · TOI community guidelinesRead full storyIran claims missile strike destroyed three US F-35 fighter jets in JordanIran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps claimed it destroyed three US F-35 Lightning II fighter jets and severely damaged three more in a missile strike on Jordan’s al-Azraq Air Base. Tehran said the attack was retaliation for recent US strikes on Iran’s Qeshm Island.The United States has not confirmed the claim, and there is no independent verification. The reported attack comes amid escalating military exchanges across the region, with US strikes targeting IRGC facilities and Iran launching missiles towards US-linked sites, raising concerns over a wider regional conflict. Read full storyGet the latest India News and Live updates. Download the TOI app.About the AuthorTOI News DeskThe TOI News Desk comprises a dedicated and tireless team of journalists who operate around the clock to deliver the most current and comprehensive news and updates to the readers of The Times of India worldwide. With an unwavering commitment to excellence in journalism, our team is at the forefront of gathering, verifying, and presenting breaking news, in-depth analysis, and insightful reports on a wide range of topics. The TOI News Desk is your trusted source for staying informed and connected to the ever-evolving global landscape, ensuring that our readers are equipped with the latest developments that matter most.”Read MoreEnd of ArticleFollow Us On Social MediaVideos₹28.5 Cr Cash Seized In Birbhum: Former Govt Bus Driver Arrested | Tulu Mondal Link Under ProbeMamata Banerjee Urges EC To End TMC Symbol Dispute As Rival Faction Misses Repeated DeadlinesSC Questions Blanket Ban On Pellet Guns, Orders Preservation Of RAF Ammunition LogOver 1 Lakh Schools Across India Have Only One Teacher; Andhra Pradesh Records Highest NumberStudent Allegedly Hacks IIT Kanpur- IIT Madras Websites After Admission RejectionAbhijeet Dipke Says PM Modi Should “Become An Influencer”, Warns Of Fresh Student Protest‘Vasteguna Huiya, Kuchu-Puchu, FOMO’: Viral Gen Z Vocabulary Echoes In ParliamentBihar Man Claims He Was Booked In NEET Leak Protest Viral Video Sparks Questions Over Protest FIRs’Dear Saurav…’ BJP MP Kangana Ranaut Tells CJP’s Saurav Das To ‘Learn Some Skill’ | Watch’Detaining Activists Is Normal’: JP Nadda Defends Police Crackdown On CJP Protesters123Photostories5 things difficult people teach you that kind people never canNTR to Prabhas, Ranbir Kapoor: 10 actors who portrayed Lord Ram on the silver screenWhen every negative pregnancy test hurts a little more: Doctors explain why fertility burnout is becoming the hidden mental health crisis nobody talks aboutWhy every designer suddenly had a ‘story’ and not just a collection at the India Couture Week 2026From ‘Insidious: Out Of The Further’ to ‘Mutiny’: Hollywood releases of August 20265 plants people grow for luck, that have better practical benefits that many probably haven’t heard aboutMyths vs facts: Is shaving facial hair bad for women?5 times Kangana Ranaut made traditional sarees look unapologetically powerful8 Healthy high-protein breakfasts that take 15 minutes or less’Love Island UK’ couples who are still together in love: From Olivia Buckland-Alex Bowen to Jessie Wynter-Will Young123Hot PicksAugust School HolidaysNHL Trade RumorsKerala Engineering rank listBhagat SinghByelection todayFranz KafkaFed meetingKanwar Yatra securityNew anti-paper leak billTop TrendingTamil Nadu Schools New MealMitch JonesNanakdin Bhurji DeathSonam RaghuvanshiNagpur MurderGujarat MurderHardoi Double SuicideMohammad Ali Jauhar University demolitionWeather TomorrowStock Market Up ‘You showed that composure isn’t the opposite of aggression’: Sachin Tendulkar’s heartfelt tribute to Ajinkya Rahane NEET UG 2026 candidate moves Delhi HC after alleging his score on the NTA portal changed three times Why couldn’t Thalapathy Vijay’s ‘Jana Nayagan’ match the box office pace of his recent hits like ‘Leo’ and ‘GOAT’?