Bhubaneswar: Odisha has achieved a historic milestone in the renewable energy sector by securing the top national honours at the PM Surya Ghar Excellence Awards. 

Recognized by the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) for its outstanding performance during the "Month of Solar" campaign held in May 2026, Odisha has established itself as a frontrunner in India’s transition to clean and sustainable energy.

The state’s aggressive push toward rooftop solar adoption under the PM Surya Ghar: Muft Bijli Yojana has resulted in a clean sweep of the primary award categories. Odisha’s achievements include, 1st Place for Maximum Consumer Applications, 1st Place for Maximum Solar installations, 1st Place for Maximum DISCOM Inspections, and 3rd Place for Maximum Vendor Registrations.

The awards were officially presented by MNRE Minister Pralhad Joshi & officials and received by the Additional Secretary of the Energy Department of Odisha, Saidutta Biplab Keshari Pradhan, Officers from DISCOMs marking a moment of pride for the state's administrative and field teams.

Deputy Chief Minister Kanak Vardhan Singh Deo lauded the achievement, attributing the success to seamless inter-departmental coordination and the relentless efforts of grassroots field officers. "Odisha is setting a shining example for the entire country in solar energy adoption. This recognition reinforces our commitment to environment-friendly development and lays the foundation for a self-reliant, energy-secure Odisha," the Deputy Chief Minister stated in a celebratory message.

The state's performance is backed by significant policy support, state budget specifically for rooftop solar projects. Additionally, innovative models such as the Utility-Led Aggregation (ULA) have lowered the barrier to entry for residential consumers, enabling thousands of households to achieve zero electricity bills.

With a target to reach 3 lakh families by 2027, Odisha continues to scale its infrastructure, ensuring that the benefits of the clean energy transition reach every household through transparent inspections and a robust vendor ecosystem.