India’s national power transmission network has scaled past 5 lakh circuit kilometres (ckm) of transmission lines of 220 kilovolt (kV) and above, the Power Ministry informed on Thursday (January 22, 2026). Additionally, it stated that the country has instituted 1,407 giga volt ampere (GVA) of transformation capacity.
“The world’s largest synchronous national grid achieved this feat on January 14 this year with the commissioning of 628 ckm transmission line of 765 kV from Bhadla II to Sikar II substation for evacuation of RE power from Rajasthan Renewable Energy Zone,” it stated.
According to the Power Ministry, the country’s transmission network has grown by 71.6% since April 2014 with the addition of 2.09 lakh ckm of transmission lines alongside the addition of 876 GVA of transformation capacity during the mentioned period.
Further, it held the Inter-State Transmission System (ISTS) projects presently under implementation would add about 40,000 ckm of transmission lines and 399 GVA of transformation capacity. According to sources privy of the development, the ongoing ISTS projects of about 40,000 ckm are planned primarily for evacuation of renewable energy.
Additionally, 27,500 ckm of transmission lines and 134 GVA of transformation capacity as part of Intra-state transmission projects are also under implementation. The Ministry holds this would “further enhance grid reliability and power evacuation capability.”
The source added that expanding transmission in an important focus area in the National Electricity Policy, 2026 — the draft paper of which was floated on Wednesday (January 21) for public consultation. This is especially in view of the need to evacuate rising renewable energy power generation, they added.
