New Delhi, May 3 (IANS) The Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) organised the ‘Run for Sun’ Marathon on Sunday, on the occasion of International Sun Day, as a tribute to the ‘Saur Shakti’ lighting the world.

The event celebrated over 1,50,000 MW of solar energy installed capacity and the transformative progress under the PM Surya Ghar: Muft Bijli Yojana (PM-SGMBY), under which 30 lakh solar rooftop installations have been completed, with the highest single-month number — 2.7 lakh of them — completed in April 2026. The rooftop solar panels now benefit more than 45 lakh households across the country, according to an official statement.

As of March 31 this year, India’s cumulative solar capacity stands at 150 gigawatts, up from just 2.82 GW in 2014 — a 53-fold increase in twelve years. The last 50 GW alone was added in just 15 months, the fastest such addition in its history. Around 50 per cent of India’s installed electricity capacity now comes from non-fossil fuel sources — a target achieved well ahead of the 2030 timeline, reinforcing India’s position as a global leader in the clean energy transition, the statement said.

India is presently ranked third globally in terms of installed renewable energy capacity. The ‘Run for Sun’ event served as a platform to highlight the depth of India’s solar energy journey — and to build on this momentum to further accelerate solar deployment across the country.

The ‘Run for Sun’ featured 2 km and 5 km races at the Major Dhyan Chand National Stadium, New Delhi, drawing enthusiastic participation from citizens across all age groups — reflecting the growing public ownership of India’s clean energy mission.

In his remarks on the occasion, Secretary, Ministry of New and Renewable Energy, Santosh Kumar Sarangi, said that the ‘Run for Sun’ is not merely a marathon, but a collective step towards a more sustainable and self-reliant India. He emphasised that as India strengthens its position as a global leader in renewable energy, the focus remains firmly on expanding access to solar energy through the PM Surya Ghar: Muft Bijli Yojana — ensuring that the benefits of the clean energy transition reach every household.

–IANS

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