New Delhi, Aug 20: India’s solar power sector has recorded its strongest first-half performance, with the country adding a record 27 GW of solar capacity during the first six months of 2026, marking a 49 per cent increase over the 18 GW installed during the same period last year.
Solar power accounted for around 76 per cent of the 35.8 GW of new power generation capacity added during the first half of the year, underlining its growing role in India’s expanding clean-energy mix.
The momentum was particularly strong in the first quarter, when 15.3 GW of solar capacity was installed. A further 11.7 GW was added during the second quarter, making it the country’s second-highest quarterly solar addition on record.
India’s cumulative solar capacity reached about 165 GW by the end of June 2026, with utility-scale projects accounting for the majority of the installed base and rooftop solar continuing to expand.
The rapid growth has been supported by rising demand for clean electricity and faster project commissioning ahead of regulatory changes. However, the sector continues to face challenges including transmission constraints and limited availability of domestically produced solar cells, which could influence the pace of future installations.
Gujarat, Rajasthan and Maharashtra remained among the leading states for large-scale solar additions during the second quarter, highlighting the continued concentration of utility-scale development in major renewable-energy markets.
The latest figures underline India’s accelerating shift towards solar power and strengthen the country’s position as one of the world’s major renewable-energy markets. With a large project pipeline and continued investment in clean-energy infrastructure, the solar sector is expected to remain a key driver of India’s power-generation growth.
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