SAUBHAGYA electrification achieved 100% coverage of willing households: Government
New Delhi: The Government of India said the SAUBHAGYA electrification programme achieved 100% coverage of all willing un-electrified households identified before March 31, 2019.
The Pradhan Mantri Sahaj Bijli Har Ghar Yojana, launched in October 2017, aimed to provide electricity connections to rural households and poor urban families. During the programme period, States electrified 286 lakh households against an estimated target of 300 lakh homes.
According to the government, all States reported full electrification of eligible and willing households under the scheme. The programme focused on last-mile connectivity and access to basic electricity infrastructure.
The Minister of State for Power, Shripad Naik, provided this information in a written reply to the Rajya Sabha. He said the government completed the scheme within the stipulated timeframe.
During the SAUBHAGYA period, Uttar Pradesh recorded the highest number of newly electrified households at over 91.8 lakh. Bihar, Odisha, Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh also reported large-scale coverage.
SAUBHAGYA electrification complemented by RDSS household connections
To improve power supply quality and reliability, the government launched the Revamped Distribution Sector Scheme. The scheme aimed to strengthen distribution infrastructure and improve operational efficiency.
Under RDSS, projects worth ₹2.62 lakh crore received approval for infrastructure and smart metering works. Out of this, the government sanctioned ₹6,522 crore for electrifying 13,65,139 households.
These connections included Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Group households under PM-JANMAN. The scheme also covered tribal families under DA-JGUA, Scheduled Caste households under PM-AJAY and homes in remote border areas under the Vibrant Village Programme.
State-wise data showed that RDSS electrification progressed across multiple categories. Several States reported ongoing connections under additional household and tribal-focused components.
The government also shared details of extra budgetary borrowings raised for electrification schemes. REC raised ₹2,950 crore for SAUBHAGYA and ₹21,159.30 crore for DDUGJY.
According to the Ministry of Power, authorities utilised the entire ₹24,109.30 crore within the approved period. The funding supported infrastructure creation and last-mile household connections.
The government stated that electrification efforts now focus on strengthening supply quality and system sustainability. RDSS remains the primary vehicle for meeting these objectives.
