UPSSSC Test 13

Uttar Pradesh has made remarkable strides in the power sector over the past decade, transforming from a state notorious for prolonged blackouts and inadequate electricity supply to one that has achieved near-universal household electrification. The Saubhagya scheme, launched by the Government of India in 2017, set the ambitious target of providing electricity connections to every household in the country, and Uttar Pradesh was among the states that took up this challenge with great seriousness. The scheme involved the deployment of large numbers of electricians and linemen across rural areas to lay last-mile connectivity, install meters, and energise connections for households that had previously been without power. The state achieved the milestone of providing electricity connections to all willing households in a time-bound manner, a feat that was celebrated as a major developmental achievement. The Ujjwal Discom Assurance Yojana, or UDAY scheme, provided the state's power distribution companies with financial restructuring support, helping them reduce their accumulated debt burdens and improve operational efficiency. Under UDAY, the state government took over a portion of the debt of distribution companies and committed to reducing aggregate technical and commercial losses, which represent a major source of financial haemorrhage for discoms. Rural electrification has been further strengthened through the Deen Dayal Upadhyaya Gram Jyoti Yojana, which not only provided household connections but also focused on feeder separation to ensure reliable supply to agricultural pump sets without disrupting domestic supply. The state has been expanding its generation capacity through new thermal power plants and is also exploring renewable energy options including rooftop solar panels on government buildings and solar pump sets for farmers. The UP New and Renewable Energy Development Agency has been actively promoting solar energy adoption through various subsidy schemes, and the state aims to significantly increase its renewable energy capacity in line with national targets.