National Power Portal: Notes for UPSC

As one of the many Government Schemes, National Power Portal will be a featured topic in the UPSC Exams.

What is the National Power Portal?

National Power Portal (NPP), a centralized system for Indian power sector that facilitates online data capture and input (daily, monthly, annually) from generation, transmission and distribution utilities in the country, was launched by the Minister of State (IC) for Power and New & Renewable Energy.  It was conceptualized, designed and developed by the National Informatics Centre (NIC).

Aspirants would find this article very helpful in framing their preparation strategy for UPSC.

National Power Portal – Overview

• Ministry of Power, Rural Electrification Commission (REC) for Deen Dayal Upadhyaya Gram Jyoti Yojana, PFC for Integrated Power Development Scheme (IPDS), Central Electricity Authority (CEA), other power sector utilities in the government sector, private sector and other government organizations are the stakeholders of NPP.
• The nodal agency for implementation of NPP and its operational control is the Central Electricity Authority (CEA).
• ‎NPP will disseminate Power Sector Information i.e consumption, supply, demand, capacity, operation through various analyzed graphs, statistics and reports for generation, transmission and distribution at all India level, state level, regional level for the central, state and private sector.
• The NPP Dashboard has been designed and developed in such a manner that it disseminates analyzed information about the sector through Geographic Information System (GIS) enabled navigation and visualization chart windows on capacity, generation, transmission, distribution at national, state, Distribution Companies (DISCOM), town, feeder level and scheme based funding to states.
• The system also facilitates various types of statutory reports required to be published regularly.
• The NPP Dashboard will act as single point interface for all Power Sector applications like Merit Order Despatch of Electricity for Rejuvenation of Income and Transparency (MERIT), VIDYUT PRAVAH, Urban Jyoti Abhiyaan (URJA), GARV, Unnat Jyoti by Affordable Lighting for All (UJALA) and Transmission App for Real Time Monitoring & Growth (TARANG) launched earlier by the Ministry of Power.
• The system will be available 24×7 to ensure timely and effective collection of data.
• It will standardized data parameters and formats for seamless exchange of data between NPP and respective systems at utilities.

National Power Portal – UPSC Notes:- Download PDF Here

Relevant Questions for National Power Portal.

What are the other schemes under the Ministry of Power?

The following are the schemes under the Ministry of Power:

1. Pradhan Mantri Sahaj Bijli Har Ghar Yojana (Saubhagya): The aim of the scheme is to provide electricity to all by last mile connectivity and electricity connections to all remaining un-electrified households in rural and urban areas. The electricity connection to households include release of electricity connections by drawing a service cable from the nearest pole to the household premise.
2. Deendayal Upadhyaya Gram Jyoti Yojana (DDUGJY):  The scheme aims to provide 24×7 continuous electricity supply across the country by 2022. It aims to strengthen sub transmission and auxiliary lines to prevent power cuts. It focuses on feeder network separation for agricultural purposes.
3. Unnat Jyoti by Affordable LEDs for All (UJALA): The UJALA Scheme was launched on May 1st, 2015 replacing the earlier :Bachat Lamp Yojana”. The objective of the scheme is to promote efficient lighting, spread awareness on using efficient equipment, that will help in reducing electricity bills and lead to a more sustainable development of rural households.

Which agency is responsible for the implementation of Pradhan Mantri Sahaj Bijli Har Ghar Yojana?

The Rural Electrification Corporation Limited (REC), a Navratna CPSE under the Ministry of Power is the nodal agency responsible for the implementation of the Saubhagya scheme.

Why was the UJALA scheme necessary?

On an average, at least 20% of the bill in rural households comes from lighting bulbs. The incandescent bulbs traditionally used were inefficient, with only 5% of the electricity being converted into light, the rest was heat. It’s lifespan was also short, lasting only upto 1000 hours upon being lit. The other  problem was that these bulbs had mercury in them, that led to mercury poisoning for anyone handling them and lower fertility of the soil if not disposed properly. Thus it was economical and environmentally friendly to use CFL bulbs that lasted upto 8000 hours which the UJALA scheme aims to expand its further use.

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