India has crossed the milestone of 52,000 public electric vehicle (EV) charging stations, reflecting the government’s continued efforts to strengthen the country’s EV ecosystem and reduce range anxiety among users. According to information shared in the Lok Sabha by Minister of State for Heavy Industries Bhupathiraju Srinivas Varma, there are currently 52,718 public EV charging stations in the country, including 16,561 fast charging stations designed for electric cars.
The government said it is actively expanding charging infrastructure through financial assistance under key schemes. The Ministry of Heavy Industries has allocated ₹912.50 crore under the FAME-II scheme and ₹2,000 crore under the PM e-Drive scheme to set up public EV charging stations in cities and highways, which will improve charging access across the country.
To further support EV adoption, the power ministry has issued Guidelines 2024 for Establishment and Operation of Electric Vehicle Charging Infrastructure, which set standards for an interoperable charging ecosystem, including battery swapping and charging stations. The government has also made the installation of EV charging stations an unlicensed activity, allowing private companies and entrepreneurs to set up charging infrastructure more easily.
Responding to a question on exclusion of electric passenger cars from the PM e-Drive scheme, the government clarified that electric cars are already supported under the Production Linked Incentive (PLI) scheme for automobiles and auto components. Under the scheme, eligible original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) get financial incentives ranging from 13% to 18% on incremental sales of Advanced Automotive Technology (AAT) vehicles, including electric four-wheelers.
The government also highlighted the achievements of its EV promotion initiative. FAME India Scheme Phase-II, implemented between April 1, 2019 to March 31, 2024, has supported the sale of approximately 16.72 lakh electric vehicles, including electric two-wheelers, three-wheelers and four-wheelers, with a total outlay of ₹11,500 crore. The scheme also facilitates the deployment of 5,197 electric buses by June 30, 2026, supporting the development of public charging infrastructure.
Additionally, the PM e-Drive scheme, launched on September 29, 2024 with a budget of ₹10,900 crore, aims to support the deployment of around 28.30 lakh electric vehicles, including electric two-wheelers, three-wheelers, trucks, buses and ambulances. The scheme also provides funding for expanding public EV charging stations and upgrading vehicle testing agencies, with ₹2,000 crore specifically earmarked for the development of charging infrastructure across the country.