National Energy Conservation Day Date in the current year: December 14, 2024

India is one of the world’s most populated countries, so it is not surprising that it is also among the world’s biggest prime energy consumers (to be exact, the third biggest after China and the United States). As a result, the country is suffering from the ever-increasing energy deficit, since its energy demand can’t be covered by domestic production.

To address the energy deficit challenge more efficiently, the Ministry of Power, Coal and Non-Conventional Energy Sources was split into the Ministry of Power, the Ministry of Coal, and the Ministry of Non-Conventional Energy Sources (known as the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy since 2006) in 1992. Each of the ministries is tasked with specific objectives so that the country’s energy policy is implemented as efficiently as possible.

The Ministry of Power oversees electricity production, infrastructure development, maintenance projects and rural electrification, as well as serves as a liaison between the government, sate electricity providers and the private sector. The Ministry of Coal is responsible for exploring the country’s coal reserves, supplying and distributing coal, and regulating coal prices. The Ministry of New and Renewable Energy Sources, naturally, is responsible for everything related to renewable energy sources, from R&D to international cooperation.

The key objective of India’s long-term energy policy is to attain energy self-sufficiency and to minimize the environmental effects of energy production and use. Although the development of alternative energy sources is the primary focus, it is also important to encourage businesses to improve their energy efficiency, as well as to motivate the general population to save energy. National Energy Conservation Day was established for exactly this reason.

National Energy Conservation Day aims to raise public awareness of the importance of energy efficiency and energy conservation, as well as to showcase India’s achievements in energy efficiency and conservation. The day is marked with conferences, workshops, debates, round table discussions, contests, and other events and activities designed to educate people about the importance of energy conservation and teach them how to save energy in their everyday lives.

Every year, the Ministry of Power organizes the National Energy Conservation Awards Program to recognize and encourage organizations that have put significant effort into efficient energy use and conservation. The award recognizes energy efficiency achievements in various sectors of economy, from industry and energy production to healthcare and tourism.

The Bureau of Energy Efficiency also bestows awards to winners of the National Painting Competition on Energy Conservation that was created to educate schoolchildren about energy efficiency and conservation.