India’s electric mobility ecosystem continues to scale, with 39,485 EV public charging stations installed across the country, including 8,414 fast chargers for electric cars, according to inputs from Bharat Heavy Electricals Limited (BHEL), the implementing agency under the PM E-DRIVE Scheme.
To strengthen charging accessibility and reduce range anxiety among EV users, the Ministry of Power has issued the “Guidelines for Installation and Operation of Electric Vehicle Charging Infrastructure 2024”. The framework mandates interoperability, standardisation, and integration of charging and battery-swapping infrastructure. The ministry has also clarified that EV charging remains an unlicensed activity, encouraging private sector participation. Additionally, Rs. 2,000 crore has been earmarked under PM E-DRIVE for setting up public EV charging stations across India.
Parallelly, the government is boosting domestic EV manufacturing through several incentive frameworks, including the PLI Auto and Auto Component Scheme and the Scheme for Promotion of Manufacturing of Electric Passenger Cars in India, aimed at strengthening the electric passenger vehicle ecosystem.
Notified on 29 September 2024, the PM E-DRIVE Scheme includes large-scale electric bus adoption under a pooled procurement model led by Convergence Energy Services Limited (CESL). Under Phase I, 10,900 e-buses have been allocated across five cities, with operator bids opened on 14 November 2025. An additional 2,900 buses have been announced under Phase II.
While no national target has been fixed for EV deployment, multiple flagship initiatives are underway to accelerate adoption:
- Production Linked Incentive (PLI) Scheme for Automobile and Auto Components (2021) with an outlay of Rs. 25,938 crore to boost Advanced Automotive Technology manufacturing, including EVs.
- PLI Scheme for Advanced Chemistry Cell (ACC) Battery Storage (2021) with Rs. 18,100 crore to establish a domestic manufacturing ecosystem targeting 50 GWh of ACC battery capacity.
- PM E-DRIVE (2024) with Rs. 10,900 crore for EV rollout across vehicle segments, charging infrastructure, and testing facilities.
- PM e-Bus Sewa-Payment Security Mechanism (2024) with an outlay of Rs. 3,435.33 crore aimed at deploying more than 38,000 electric buses and ensuring timely operator payments.
- Scheme for Promotion of Manufacturing of Electric Passenger Cars in India (2024), requiring a minimum investment of Rs. 4,150 crore and domestic value-addition goals of 25% by Year 3 and 50% by Year 5.
The update was shared by Minister of State for Heavy Industries Shri Bhupathiraju Srinivasa Varma in a written reply in the Rajya Sabha.
