HISTORY OF POWER SECTOR IN INDIA

• The power sector in India has undergone significant progress after Independence.                                                                                   
•  When India became independent in 1947, the country had a power generating capacity of 1,362 MW.                                                        
•  Hydro power and coal based thermal power have been the main sources of generating electricity.                                                                     
•  Generation and distribution of electrical power was carried out primarily by private utility companies.Notable amongst them and still in existence is Calcutta Electric.
•  Power was available only in a few urban centers; rural areas and villages did not have electricity.                                                                      
• After 1947, all new power generation, transmission and distribution in the rural sector and the urban centers (which was not served by private utilities) came under the purview of State and Central government agencies.State Electricity Boards (SEBs) were formed in all the states.      
•  In spite of the overall development that has taken place, the power supply industry has been under constant pressure to bridge the gap between supply and demand.