OIL also owns and operates a branch line to feed Digboi refinery.
      Relevant Website: www.oil-india.com
           In response, five states namely Karnataka, Goa, Maharashtra, Gujarat and Bihar have
      complied with the amended provisions of the IDR Act. This Ministry is regularly following up
      with remaining States for early implementation of IDR Act.
      New and Renewable Energy
           Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) is the nodal Ministry at the federal level
      for all matters relating to new and renewable energy. The Ministry has been facilitating the
      implementation of broad spectrum programmes including harnessing renewable power,
      renewable energy to rural areas for lighting, cooking and motive power, use of renewable energy
      in urban, industrial and commercial applications and development of alternate fuels and
      applications.
      Relevant Website: www.nrre.gov.in
      Indian Scenario
           Over the years, renewable energy sector in the country has emerged as a significant player
      in the grid connected power generation capacity. It supports the government agenda of
      sustainable growth, while, emerging as an integral part of the solution to meet the nation’s
      energy needs and an essential player for energy access. It has been realized that renewable
      energy has to play a much deeper role in achieving energy security in the years ahead and be an
      integral part of the energy planning process. Renewable energy sector landscape in India has,
      during the last few years, witnessed tremendous changes in the policy framework with
      accelerated and ambitious plans to increase the contribution of solar energy. There is a
      perception that renewable energy can now play a significant role, as also, there is a confidence in
      the technologies and capacity to do so. Enlarging the scope of the National Solar Mission
      symbolizes both, and indeed encapsulates the vision and ambition for the future.
      Drivers for Development
           At present around 69.5 per cent of India’s power generation capacity is based on coal. In
      addition, there is an increasing dependence on imported oil, which is leading to imports of
      around 33 per cent of India’s total energy needs. Despite increase in installed capacity by more
      than 113 times, India is still not in a position to meet its peak electricity demand as well as
      energy requirement. The peak power deficit during financial year 2001-02 was 12.2 per cent,
      approximately 9252 MW, however, at the end of 2014-15, the peak power deficit decreased to
      the order of 2.4 per cent. As a fallout of this situation, planned and un-planned measures were
      undertaken by the government and utilities to bridge this demand-supply gap. India faces a
      challenge to ensure availability of reliable and modern forms of energy for all its citizens.
      Almost 85 per cent of rural households depend on solid fuel for their cooking needs and only 55
      per cent of them have access to electricity. However, even with this low access, most rural
      households face issues with quality and consistency of energy supply. Lack of rural lighting is
      leading to large-scale use of kerosene. This usage needs to be reduced, as it leads to increased
      subsidies and import dependence, and consequent pressure on foreign exchange reserves.
           India has taken a voluntary commitment of reducing emission intensity of its GDP by 33-35