India's power sector got a direct call to action on Thursday, 6 August 2026, when Union Power Minister Manohar Lal Khattar convened a high-level industry roundtable with the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII), pressing energy sector leaders to accelerate domestic manufacturing, deepen R&D investment, and build world-class technology solutions — entirely within India's borders. Speaking at the CII Industry Roundtable, Khattar acknowledged the 'historic transformation' India's energy landscape has undergone over the last 12 years, crediting industry as a central partner in those gains. But the minister made clear the next chapter demands more: faster indigenisation of critical power equipment, fresh momentum in research and development, and manufacturing capabilities that can compete on a global stage — all aligned with the Make in India vision.

The indigenisation push — and why it matters now

India's power sector has long carried a structural vulnerability: significant dependence on imported equipment for transformers, switchgear, cables, and advanced grid components. The Atmanirbhar Bharat framework, announced in 2020, put self-reliance in strategic sectors firmly on the policy agenda, and Khattar's remarks at the CII forum signal that the Ministry of Power intends to hold industry to that commitment. His call to 'accelerate indigenisation of critical electrical equipment' is not ceremonial — it is a direct challenge to manufacturers to reduce import exposure in a sector that underpins every other industry in the country.

AI, cybersecurity, and the grid of the future

Khattar went beyond steel and copper. He placed particular emphasis on artificial intelligence, robust cybersecurity frameworks, and India-developed technological solutions for the power grid. As grids grow smarter — integrating renewables, managing two-way flows, and handling real-time demand signals — their digital attack surface expands in tandem. The minister's explicit stress on cybersecurity alongside AI adoption reflects a growing official recognition that energy security is now as much a software problem as a hardware one.

Government's commitment to industry-friendly reform

Khattar closed with a clear signal on regulatory intent. The central government, he said, will remain a 'strong partner' to industry — ready to deliver 'effective and industry-friendly solutions' on policy support, regulatory reform, or institutional backing wherever needed. That framing — government as enabler, not gatekeeper — is consistent with the broader reform posture the Ministry of Power has maintained through successive rounds of tariff rationalisation and grid modernisation. With indigenisation targets and follow-up regulatory announcements now firmly in the spotlight, the real test will be whether Thursday's roundtable produces binding commitments — or remains a well-attended conversation.