Gujarat becomes first state to distribute 2 crore LED Bulbs under UJALA

Gujarat in the last week of August 2016 has become the first state to distribute 2 crore LED bulbs under Unnat Jyoti by Affordable LEDs for All (UJALA) scheme.

The state achieved the milestone in only 96 days. Over 42 lakh households have benefitted from the scheme.

The distribution of 2 crore LED bulbs has led to an annual energy savings of 259 crore kWh, which is equivalent to lighting up 5 lakh Indian homes for an entire year. Besides, Gujarat has also benefitted from daily CO2 emission reduction of 5000 tonnes.

Energy Efficiency Services Limited (EESL), under the administration of Ministry of Power, Government of India, is distributing approximately 2 lakh bulbs daily in Gujarat.

About Unnat Jyoti by Affordable LEDs for All

• UJALA was launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on 1 May 2015.

• The scheme replaced the Bachat Lamp Yojana.

• Within 1 year of its launch, 9 crore LED bulbs were sold in the country, reducing their electricity bills by 55 billion rupees.

• The scheme was announced as Domestic Efficient Lighting Programme (DELP) on 5 January 2015.

• The scheme urged the people to use LED bulbs in place of incandescent bulbs, tube lights and CFL bulbs as they are more efficient, long lasting and economical in their life cycle duration.

• With this scheme, the government's target is to replace 77 crore incandescent bulbs in India with LEDs by 2019. It will lead to an expected reduction in installed load of 20000 MW with an annual estimated savings of over 100 million kwh and an annual reduction of 400 billion rupees in electricity bills.

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