As India moves towards becoming a cleaner and more energy-efficient economy, the quality of its energy data is becoming just as important as the energy infrastructure itself. Policymakers rely on accurate statistics to plan electricity generation, improve energy security, measure emissions, monitor renewable energy growth, and track progress towards India’s Net Zero target by 2070.
Recognising this need, the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MoSPI) has released the Report of the Expert Committee on Energy Statistics, prepared under the chairmanship of Dr Rangan Banerjee, Director of IIT Delhi. The committee reviewed India’s existing energy statistics framework and proposed a series of recommendations to improve the country’s energy database, align it with international standards, and address major data gaps.
Unlike a policy announcement introducing new energy schemes, this report focuses on improving how India collects, classifies, and publishes energy data. While these changes may appear technical, they are expected to strengthen evidence-based policymaking and provide a more accurate picture of India’s rapidly evolving energy landscape.
Key Highlights
- MoSPI has released the Report of the Expert Committee on Energy Statistics to improve India’s national energy statistics framework.
- The committee recommends adopting international standards such as ISIC Rev. 5, NIC 2025, and SIEC for better global comparability.
- New methodologies have been proposed to estimate biofuel consumption, electricity demand from electric vehicles (EVs), and captive/off-grid power generation.
- The report recommends using Annual Survey of Industries (ASI) data to improve estimates of industry-wise coal and electricity consumption.
- Uniform energy conversion factors across ministries have been recommended to eliminate inconsistencies in national energy statistics.
- Better coordination among energy ministries is expected to create a more comprehensive and reliable national energy database.
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Why India Needed an Expert Committee on Energy Statistics
India’s energy system has become increasingly complex over the past decade. Alongside conventional fuels such as coal, oil and natural gas, the country is rapidly expanding renewable energy, electric mobility, rooftop solar installations and biofuels.
However, India’s energy statistics are compiled through a decentralised system. Different ministries collect data for different energy sources such as coal, petroleum, electricity and renewable energy, and each follows its own reporting practices. MoSPI then compiles this information into the annual Energy Statistics India publication and prepares national energy balance tables.
The committee found that this decentralised approach has resulted in inconsistencies in classifications, methodologies, conversion factors and reporting formats across ministries. It also identified several important gaps, including limited information on biofuel consumption, captive power generation, industry-wise electricity use and electricity consumed by electric vehicles.
To address these issues, MoSPI constituted an Expert Committee comprising representatives from energy ministries, IIT Delhi, TERI, Alliance for an Energy Efficient Economy (AEEE), Bureau of Energy Efficiency (BEE), Prayas and other institutions. The committee held multiple technical consultations before finalising its recommendations.
Major Recommendations to Improve India’s Energy Statistics
Aligning India’s Energy Data with International Standards
One of the committee’s primary recommendations is to align India’s energy statistics with internationally accepted statistical standards. It recommends adopting:
- International Standard Industrial Classification (ISIC)
- National Industrial Classification (NIC) 2025
- Standard International Energy Product Classification (SIEC)
Using common classifications will help ensure that all energy ministries report data in a consistent format. This will improve international comparability and reduce differences between India’s statistics and those published by organisations such as the International Energy Agency (IEA) and the United Nations Statistics Division (UNSD).
The report also recommends using uniform conversion factors across ministries so that energy production and consumption figures remain consistent regardless of the reporting agency.
Improving Coal and Electricity Consumption Data
Coal continues to be India’s largest source of primary energy. However, the committee found that detailed information on where imported coal and auctioned domestic coal are ultimately consumed remains incomplete.
To improve sector-wise estimates, it recommends using data from the Annual Survey of Industries (ASI) until more comprehensive datasets become available under the Bureau of Energy Efficiency’s Perform, Achieve and Trade (PAT) programme. This would provide a more accurate picture of industry-wise coal consumption.
The committee proposes a similar methodology for estimating industry-wise electricity consumption. Since existing electricity statistics do not provide sufficient detail across manufacturing industries, ASI data can help improve demand estimation and support better industrial energy planning.
Filling Major Gaps in India’s Energy Database
One of the report’s most significant contributions is its focus on areas where reliable national-level data is currently unavailable.
Biofuel Consumption
India currently lacks a consolidated national database for biofuel consumption. As a result, the United Nations Statistics Division estimates India’s biofuel consumption independently in its annual World Energy Balance, with biofuels accounting for roughly 31–34% of India’s total annual energy consumption, based on its own methodology.
The committee recommends adopting a comprehensive methodology developed by the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) and TERI to estimate domestic biofuel consumption and include it in India’s official energy balance tables.
Developing an official national estimate would improve transparency and reduce reliance on external estimations.
Captive Power and Off-grid Electricity
Industries across India increasingly generate electricity through captive power plants, while decentralised renewable systems such as rooftop solar are becoming more common.
Despite their growing importance, these sources are not comprehensively reflected in India’s current energy statistics.
The report proposes an initial methodology for estimating electricity generated and consumed through captive and off-grid systems. It recommends further refinement of these estimates as more data becomes available.
Measuring Electricity Demand from Electric Vehicles
Electric vehicles represent another fast-growing area where reliable national statistics remain limited. As EV adoption accelerates under India’s clean mobility initiatives, understanding electricity demand from vehicle charging will become increasingly important for power planning and infrastructure development.
The committee recommends adopting an initial methodology to estimate EV electricity demand while encouraging future improvements through additional research and data collection.
Building a More Consistent National Energy Database
Apart from addressing missing datasets, the committee also examined inconsistencies between existing government statistics.
For example, it noted methodological differences in calculating per-capita electricity consumption and coal calorific values across government agencies. These differences often create confusion among users and reduce comparability between datasets.
The report recommends greater coordination among ministries so that concepts, methodologies and reporting practices remain consistent while still allowing agencies to maintain data relevant to their specific functions.
It also recommends improving reporting formats, harmonising energy classifications and developing standardised data collection templates for all line ministries.
Why This Matters
Although the report focuses on statistical methodologies rather than new energy policies, its recommendations could have significant long-term benefits. Better energy statistics can help:
- Improve evidence-based policymaking.
- Produce more accurate national energy balance tables.
- Strengthen monitoring of renewable energy and Net Zero commitments.
- Support industrial energy efficiency initiatives.
- Improve electricity demand forecasting.
- Enhance greenhouse gas emissions estimation.
- Increase transparency for investors and researchers.
- Improve India’s international energy reporting.
As India’s energy mix becomes more diversified, accurate statistics become increasingly important for balancing energy security, economic growth and sustainability.
ChartForest Analysis
The Expert Committee’s recommendations may not generate headlines like a new renewable energy scheme or power sector reform, but they address one of the most fundamental requirements of good policymaking: high-quality data.
India’s energy sector is changing rapidly. Solar and wind capacity are expanding, electric vehicle adoption is rising, industries are investing in captive power generation, and biofuels are becoming an important component of the country’s clean energy strategy. Yet many of these developments are not fully reflected in the existing statistical framework.
The committee’s emphasis on harmonisation is particularly significant. Currently, different ministries often classify and report energy data differently, making it difficult to create a consistent national picture. Adopting common classifications and reporting standards should improve both domestic policymaking and international reporting.
Another important aspect is the report’s focus on demand-side statistics. Historically, India’s energy data has concentrated more on production and supply. Better information on how different sectors actually consume energy could improve industrial efficiency programmes, infrastructure planning and climate policy.
Implementation, however, will be the real challenge. Many recommendations depend on sustained cooperation among ministries, standardised reporting practices and continuous improvement of administrative databases. Some methodologies, particularly those related to EV charging and off-grid electricity, are intended as starting points and will require refinement as better datasets become available.
Going forward, future editions of Energy Statistics India will indicate how successfully these recommendations are implemented. Expanding coverage of emerging technologies such as green hydrogen, battery storage and distributed renewable energy could be the next logical step in strengthening India’s energy statistics ecosystem.
Source: Ministry of Statistics & Programme Implementation, Report of the Expert Committee on Energy Statistics (June 2026)
