Environment2 min
Uttarakhand Ranks Second Among Special Category States in National Clean Energy Scorecard
The Himalayan state earned a No. 2 spot in the Centre's new renewable energy report card, and it will collect its recognition from the Vice President next week.
Uttarakhand has finished second among special category states in the Union Ministry of New and Renewable Energy's Renewable Energy State Assessment Framework (RE-SAF). The ministry announced the ranking on October 31, 2026.
Ministry Secretary Santosh Sarangi shared the news in a letter to Uttarakhand Chief Secretary Anand Bardhan. He praised the state for steadily building an environment that helps renewable energy projects take off.
The reward comes with a stage. Vice President C. P. Radhakrishnan will felicitate Uttarakhand at the closing session of the Bharat RE Summit and Expo 2026 on November 5.
So what is RE-SAF? Think of it as a report card for states and Union Territories. It scores them on how much clean capacity they add, how supportive their policies and regulations are, how ready their power grids are, how well their power distribution companies (DISCOMs) perform, and how attractive they are to investors. The idea is to reward good performers and nudge others to copy what works.
Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami said the rank reflects the state's commitment to protecting the environment. He pointed to the national goal of 500 GW of non-fossil installed electricity capacity by 2030 and said Uttarakhand is contributing to it.
Dhami said the state is leaning on solar, hydropower and small hydropower projects. Beyond cleaner air and rivers, he said the aim is to meet local power needs, create jobs close to home and speed up economic growth.
For residents, the takeaway is simple: a state with mountains, rivers and sunshine is trying to turn them into reliable power and local work. The ranking does not change bills overnight, but it signals that the Centre sees Uttarakhand's approach as one worth highlighting.
Read the original report here.
