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GS3 · Power sector

Smart meters: 4.76 crore installed against 20.33 crore sanctioned

1 min readEnergy
Battle IAS current affairs title card: Smart meters: 4.76 crore installed against 20.33 crore sanctioned (GS3 · Power sector, 8 December 2025)

What happened

  • Under the Revamped Distribution Sector Scheme (RDSS), 20.33 crore smart meters are sanctioned; 4.76 crore have been installed in the country under all schemes [PIB].
  • Metering is done through PPP in TOTEX mode. Local content in smart meters must be at least 60%, and 100% in Head End and Meter Data Management systems from 1 January 2025 [PIB].

Background

  • RDSS aims to cut discom losses (AT&C) and the gap between cost and revenue.

Why it matters

  • Smart meters cut billing theft and let discoms charge by time of day. Prepaid meters can upset consumers if rolled out without notice.

How to use this in Mains

GS-III Infrastructure: energy, ports, roads, airports, railways; investment models

  1. As per PIB (2025-12-08): under the Revamped Distribution Sector Scheme (RDSS), 20.33 crore smart meters are sanctioned; 4.76 crore have been installed in the country under all schemes.
  2. Smart meters cut billing theft and let discoms charge by time of day. Prepaid meters can upset consumers if rolled out without notice.
Quotable data point

Metering is done through PPP in TOTEX mode. Local content in smart meters must be at least 60%, and 100% in Head End and Meter Data Management systems from 1 January 2025.

PIB: MoP: Smart metering adoption, 8 Dec 2025

Exam angle

UPSC

Prelims: RDSS, TOTEX.

Practice MCQs

Original practice questions (not PYQs).

Practice · UPSC

Smart meters sanctioned under RDSS

Answer (c) & explanation

PIB.

Practice · UPSC

Required minimum local content in smart meters

Answer (c) & explanation

PIB.

Practice · UPSC

TOTEX means

Answer (a) & explanation

PIB.

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Official source: PIB: MoP: Smart metering adoption, 8 Dec 2025

facts from cited sources only; faculty review pending