New Delhi [India], April 26 (ANI): Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday highlighted the country's growing wind energy capacity, calling it a 'major milestone' as the country crossed the 5.5 GW mark in annual additions and continued strengthening its renewable energy footprint.

In the 133rd episode of his monthly radio programme 'Mann Ki Baat', PM Modi said wind energy represents an invisible yet powerful force that is driving India's growth story and contributing significantly to the country's development journey.

'In today's 'Mann Ki Baat', I would like to speak about a power that is invisible but without it, our life is impossible even for a single moment. This is the force that is taking Bharat forward. This is our wind energy. Today, this wind power is writing a new story of Bharat's development. Bharat has recently achieved a major milestone in wind energy,' PM Modi said.

'Now Bharat's wind generation capacity has exceeded 56 gigawatts... Today, Bharat is in the fourth position in the world in wind energy capacity. This is the hard work of our engineers, the hard work of youths and the symbol of the country's collective willpower,' he added.

India achieved its highest-ever annual wind capacity addition of 6.05 GW during FY 2025-26, crossing the landmark of 5.5 GW capacity addition in FY 2016-17.

This also represents an increase of nearly 46% over the capacity in FY 2024-25, marking a decisive acceleration in India's onshore wind deployment trajectory.

With this addition, India's cumulative installed wind power capacity has crossed 56 GW. This milestone reflects renewed momentum in the sector driven by improved policy clarity, transmission readiness, competitive tariff discovery and a strong project pipeline.

This milestone achievement is the result of sustained policy support, improved project execution, and greater pipeline maturity across key wind states. States such as Gujarat, Karnataka, and Maharashtra have been the primary contributors to capacity addition during the year, underpinned by a growing pipeline of wind-solar hybrid projects and the progressive roll-out of green energy open access.

India's wind energy sector has grown steadily, making India one of the leading wind energy markets globally. The government has taken several initiatives to promote the sector, including Concessional Custom Duty on certain components and raw materials used in the manufacturing of wind turbines, graded Waiver of Inter-State Transmission System (ISTS) charges till June 2028, competitive bidding mechanisms, separate Wind Renewable Consumption Obligation (RCO) frameworks, and technical support from the National Institute of Wind Energy.

The record expansion in wind energy is expected to significantly contribute to India's broader goal of achieving 500 GW of non-fossil fuel-based energy capacity by 2030, reinforcing the country's transition towards cleaner and sustainable energy sources.

India's wind energy program was initiated in the early 1990s as part of the Government's broader renewable energy strategy. Over the past three decades, India has developed a strong wind energy ecosystem and a robust policy framework to promote grid-connected wind power projects. (ANI)