In News:

On 14 December 2025 (National Energy Conservation Day), the President of India presented the National Energy Conservation Awards 2025 in New Delhi.

National Energy Conservation Awards (NECA)

• Instituted by: Bureau of Energy Efficiency
• Started: 1991
• Purpose: To recogniseorganisations and institutions that achieve significant energy savings while maintaining or improving productivity.

Sectors Covered

• Industries
• Commercial buildings
• Transport sector
• Institutions
• Energy-efficient appliances

Objectives of the Awards

• Promote adoption of energy-efficient technologies
• Encourage best practices in energy management
• Raise awareness about the role of energy efficiency in sustainable development
• Support India’s commitments toward climate mitigation

Bureau of Energy Efficiency (BEE)

About

• A statutory body under the Energy Conservation Act
• Established on 1 March 2002
• Functions under the Ministry of Power

Major Functions

BEE promotes energy efficiency through national programmes such as:

• Standards & Labelling (S&L) Programme: Introduces star ratings for appliances to guide consumers toward energy-efficient products.
• Demand Side Management (DSM): Encourages efficient energy use across sectors including agriculture, industry, and households.
• Carbon Credit Trading Scheme (CCTS), 2023: Replaces the earlier Perform, Achieve and Trade (PAT) scheme, promoting market-based mechanisms for emission reduction.
• Public Awareness & Capacity Building: Campaigns, training programmes, and competitions (like NECA and painting contests for students)

India’s energy efficiency efforts in 2023–24 reportedly led to savings of 53.60 million tonnes of oil equivalent (MTOE), along with substantial reductions in CO? emissions.

Related National Initiatives

Energy conservation aligns with broader programmes such as:

• Pradhan Mantri Surya Ghar Muft Bijli Yojana (rooftop solar adoption)
• National Green Hydrogen Mission
• Renewable Consumption Obligations and Production Linked Incentive schemes

It also supports India’s global message of Lifestyle for Environment, encouraging sustainable consumption patterns.