- Why in news
- On 10 August 2026, the Ministry of Power told the Rajya Sabha in a written reply what RDSS, IPDS and NSGM have done to digitalise DISCOMs, with sanctioned amounts and smart meter coverage.
- What it is
- The Revamped Distribution Sector Scheme (RDSS) was launched in July 2021 to improve DISCOM operations and finances. It gives financial assistance for loss reduction works and prepaid smart metering. It follows earlier central schemes such as IPDS and the National Smart Grid Mission.
- Launch and aim
- RDSS was launched in July 2021 to improve power supply quality through a financially sustainable and operationally efficient distribution sector.
- Sanctioned projects
- Rs 1.53 lakh crore is sanctioned for loss reduction works and Rs 1.31 lakh crore for smart metering.
- Smart metering scope
- Smart metering covers 19.79 crore consumers, 2.05 lakh feeders and 52.53 lakh distribution transformers.
- India Energy Stack
- The Government has started the India Energy Stack to enable data exchange across the power sector.
Don’t confuse with RDSS vs IPDS: IPDS (2014) was the earlier scheme, which subsumed R-APDRP and closed in March 2022. RDSS (2021) is the current one.
Don’t confuse with RDSS vs NSGM: NSGM was a mission to plan and monitor smart grid projects and closed in March 2024. RDSS funds DISCOM loss reduction and smart metering.
Schemes: 52 Prelims questions since 2013, 10 in Prelims 2026 alone. They test features, the period and who funds it. In Mains, 33 news-triggered questions, mostly GS3.
Why it matters
- Cutting DISCOM losses and improving billing helps their finances and the reliability of supply.
- Smart meters and SCADA give data for better planning and fewer commercial losses.
Problems
- Electricity is a concurrent subject and DISCOMs work under State governments, so delivery depends on States.
- Spending lags sanctions: only Rs 2,733 crore has gone to smart metering since FY2023 against Rs 1.31 lakh crore sanctioned.
Way forward
- Link central funds to measurable DISCOM performance and timely meter rollout.
- Build DISCOM staff capacity and use common digital platforms such as the India Energy Stack.
Put in your answer
Funds released: Rs 47,124 crore has been released under RDSS since FY2023.
Capacity building: 14,853 DISCOM personnel were trained under RDSS.
- 2016Mains GS3 · Q11Discuss renewable energy status, targets, and importance of the National LED Programme
- 2018Mains GS3 · Q1Comment on India's progress toward affordable, reliable, modern energy for SDGs
UPSC’s own questions that come close to this issue, from our Prelims and Mains banks.
No practice question for this one; the card may still help an answer. Why: Reply traces IPDS (2014), NSGM (2015) and RDSS (2021) in DISCOM reform. Useful background but largely a recap.
Worth revising until Prelims 2028: most news questions come within two years of the event.