New Delhi, 24 September 2026: The MoA for implementation of grid-connected rooftop solar PV systems across 76 ICAR institutes was signed in the presence of Dr. M. L. Jat, Secretary, DARE and Director General, ICAR; Shri Sandeep Sarkar, Additional Secretary, DARE and Financial Advisor, ICAR; Shri Gyanendra D. Tripathi, IAS, Additional Secretary, DARE and Secretary, ICAR; and Shri Prince Dhawan, IAS, CEO, RECPDCL. The MoA was signed by Shri Jaspal Singh Kushwaha, General Manager, Renewable Division, RECPDCL, and Shri Kumar Rajesh, Director (GAC), ICAR.
The Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR), the apex organisation for coordinating agricultural research and education in India under the Department of Agricultural Research and Education (DARE), Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, has entered into a Memorandum of Agreement (MoA) with REC Power Development and Consultancy Limited (RECPDCL), a wholly owned subsidiary of REC Limited, a Maharatna Central Public Sector Enterprise under the Ministry of Power, for the implementation of grid-connected rooftop solar photovoltaic (PV) systems across 76 ICAR institutes spanning 24 States and Union Territories.
Under the agreement, rooftop solar PV systems with an aggregate capacity of 11,109.87 kW (11.1 MW) will be implemented on a turnkey basis. The project is expected to generate approximately 1.73 crore units of clean electricity annually, contributing to reduced dependence on conventional energy and promoting sustainable energy use across India’s agricultural research infrastructure.
The projects will be funded by ICAR, while RECPDCL will serve as the designated Turnkey Implementation Partner. RECPDCL will undertake end-to-end implementation through its empanelled EPC-cum-O&M agencies, covering
design, engineering, supply, installation, testing and commissioning, followed by five years of comprehensive Operation & Maintenance (O&M).
The MoA was signed in the presence of Dr. M. L. Jat, Secretary, DARE and Director General, ICAR; Shri Sandeep Sarkar, Additional Secretary, DARE and Financial Advisor, ICAR; Shri Gyanendra D. Tripathi, IAS, Additional Secretary, DARE and Secretary, ICAR; and Shri Prince Dhawan, IAS, CEO, RECPDCL. The MoA was signed by Shri Jaspal Singh Kushwaha, General Manager, Renewable Division, RECPDCL, and Shri Kumar Rajesh, Director (GAC), ICAR.
RECPDCL’s role in the initiative stems from its designation by the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) as the Scheme Implementation Partner (SIP) for Government Building Solarisation under the PM Surya Ghar: Muft Bijli Yojana.
The initiative marks a significant step towards accelerating the adoption of renewable energy across government institutions and supporting the Government of India’s broader objectives of clean energy transition, energy efficiency and sustainable development.
