The Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) has extended the timeline of the ‘Development of Solar Parks and Ultra Mega Solar Power Projects’ program by three years until March 31, 2029.

According to the latest order, while the program has been extended until the end of the financial year (FY) 2028-29, new approvals for solar park capacity will be granted only up to March 31, 2026.

This means that while ongoing and approved projects can continue till March 2029, any fresh approvals must be secured within the next six months from the current financial year.

The extension has been approved without any additional financial implications, with focus on completing the ongoing solar parks and clearing committed liabilities under the existing program.

In June 2023, MNRE had extended the timeline for the program by two years until March 31, 2026.

MNRE emphasized that the timeline extension is aimed at ensuring the timely completion of projects already under development and managing existing liabilities, without any financial implications.

Implemented first in December 2014, the program was rolled out to set up at least 25 solar parks and ultra mega solar power projects with 20 GW capacity within five years, starting FY 2014-15. The target was later increased to 40 GW in March 2017, with parks proposed to be set up by FY 2023-24.

As on February 28, 2025, out of the 39,958 MW of capacity approved under the program, 12,396 MW of solar park projects have been installed. Infrastructure has been fully developed in 18 solar parks and partly developed in 6 solar parks, Minister of State for New and Renewable Energy Shripad Naik told the Rajya Sabha in April.

Last May, MNRE exempted solar and renewable energy parks developed by central public sector undertakings or their joint ventures from having their Detailed Project Reports vetted by state government committees.

In 2023, the government approved 50 solar parks across 12 states with a combined capacity of 37,990 MW.