About Indian Akshay Urja Day
Indian Akshay Urja Day, or Akshay Urja Diwas, is India's renewable energy awareness day, held on 20 August since 2004, the birth anniversary of former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi. The Ministry of New and Renewable Energy and state agencies run school competitions, rallies and campaigns on solar, wind and biogas. In 2027 it falls on Friday, 20 August 2027.
"Akshay urja" means inexhaustible energy, the Hindi term the government uses for renewables. The day is small in the calendar, mostly marked in schools and by state energy agencies. It is still useful to know what the day is for and how much has changed since it began.
How did Akshay Urja Diwas begin?
Akshay Urja Diwas began on 20 August 2004, when the Ministry of Non-Conventional Energy Sources, now the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE), marked Rajiv Gandhi's 60th birth anniversary with a national campaign on renewable energy. That year a commemorative stamp was released and about 12,000 schoolchildren formed a human chain in New Delhi. The main national event later moved around the country, to Nagpur in 2006, Hyderabad in 2007 and Panchkula in 2008.
The day's full name is Rajiv Gandhi Akshay Urja Diwas. The same date is also Sadbhavana Diwas, the day of harmony, marked in government offices with a pledge.
How is Akshay Urja Diwas observed?
Akshay Urja Diwas is observed mainly through schools and state renewable energy agencies, which act as the MNRE's nodal bodies. In West Bengal, for example, WBREDA has held model-making contests, quizzes, drawing and debate competitions, and rallies with student-made posters, and added battery-powered two-wheeler rallies from 2012. Other states hold essay contests, street plays and seminars for students and panchayats. It is not a public holiday.
How much renewable energy does India have now?
India's renewable capacity has grown many times over since the day began. In June 2025, non-fossil sources reached half of India's installed power capacity, five years ahead of the 2030 target in its Paris Agreement commitment. MNRE's figures for 31 August 2026 show:
| Source | Installed capacity (31 Aug 2026) |
|---|---|
| Solar | 168.0 GW |
| Wind | 58.5 GW |
| Large hydro (incl. pumped storage) | 52.1 GW |
| Bio-power and waste to energy | about 11.7 GW |
| Small hydro | 5.2 GW |
| Nuclear | 8.8 GW |
| Total non-fossil | 304.3 GW |
The national target is 500 GW of non-fossil capacity by 2030. Capacity is not the same as generation: coal still produces most of India's electricity, because solar and wind only generate when the sun shines or the wind blows. In 2025 a parliamentary standing committee named land, grid connectivity and storage as the main bottlenecks.
For households, the largest programme is PM Surya Ghar: Muft Bijli Yojana, launched in February 2024 with an outlay of Rs 75,021 crore. It aims to put rooftop solar on one crore homes, with central subsidy of up to Rs 78,000 for a system of 3 kW or more and a target of up to 300 free units a month.
How can you mark Akshay Urja Diwas at home?
The most useful way to mark Akshay Urja Diwas is to do one thing that lasts beyond the day.
- Check your roof. If you own your home, look up the rooftop solar subsidy on the national portal and ask your electricity distributor about net metering.
- Cut standby waste. Switch off geysers, set-top boxes and chargers at the wall.
- Help a school. A working solar lantern or small panel kit is a better science prize than a trophy.
- Thank the people who do the work. Solar installers, linemen and wind-farm technicians work in heat and at height.
What to write on Akshay Urja Diwas
Happy Akshay Urja Diwas. Every panel you put up is a little less smoke for all of us. Thank you.
On Akshay Urja Diwas, here's to your solar car project. Build it well; the country needs more of it.
Akshay Urja Diwas today. Small ask: switch off the AC and monitor when you leave the room. It adds up.
Happy Renewable Energy Day to the first house on our street running on sunshine.
On Akshay Urja Diwas, let's check the geyser timer at home. Clean energy starts with not wasting it.
For related days, see World Environment Day on 5 June and Earth Day on 22 April.
How to wish someone on Indian Akshay Urja Day
An Akshay Urja Diwas message is less a greeting than a nudge. The best ones mention one practical thing: a rooftop solar panel, a switched-off geyser, an electric scooter, a school science project. Messages to engineers, installers and energy workers can thank them directly. Keep it hopeful and concrete rather than preachy.
Write a few lines in your own words, pick a design and share it as one link on WhatsApp, Instagram or anywhere else. They open an animated card made just for them, with no app and no sign-up.
Language tip: English, Hindi + recipient language.
When is Indian Akshay Urja Day in 2026 and 2027?
Indian Akshay Urja Day is on 20 Aug every year. Only the weekday changes.
- 2026
- 2027
Frequently asked questions
When is Indian Akshay Urja Day in 2027?
Indian Akshay Urja Day 2027 falls on Friday, 20 August 2027.
Why is Akshay Urja Diwas celebrated on 20 August?
Akshay Urja Diwas is held on 20 August because it is the birth anniversary of former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi. The renewable energy ministry began the observance on his 60th birth anniversary in 2004.
What does "akshay urja" mean?
"Akshay urja" is Hindi for inexhaustible energy. The Government of India uses it for renewable sources such as solar, wind, small hydro and biogas.
Is Akshay Urja Diwas a holiday?
Akshay Urja Diwas is not a public holiday. It is an awareness day marked by schools, colleges and state renewable energy agencies with competitions, rallies and seminars.
How much of India's power capacity is renewable?
Non-fossil sources, including large hydro and nuclear, crossed half of India's installed power capacity in June 2025. By 31 August 2026, MNRE reported about 304 GW of non-fossil capacity, of which solar was about 168 GW.
Last verified by the Kehdoo team on .