India plans to use land owned by its rural local governments, the Panchayats, for EV charging and battery swapping. The Ministry of Panchayati Raj signed a memorandum of understanding with Convergence Energy Services Limited (CESL) on October 30, 2026, according to the Press Information Bureau. CESL is a wholly owned subsidiary of Energy Efficiency Services Limited (EESL) under the Ministry of Power.
What the MoU Covers
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Parties | Ministry of Panchayati Raj (MoPR) and CESL |
| Signed | October 30, 2026, at the National Workshop on the People’s Plan Campaign 2026–27, New Delhi |
| Sites | Panchayat premises and suitable locations along State and National Highways |
| Vehicles served | Two-, three- and four-wheelers, plus medium and heavy-duty vehicles |
| Beneficiaries | Gram, Block and District Panchayats in States and Union Territories |
Division of Roles
Under the agreement, the ministry will coordinate with State Panchayati Raj Departments to identify and monitor suitable sites. CESL will handle site assessment, demand aggregation, supply, installation, testing, commissioning, operation and maintenance. The government presents the plan as a way to create new own-source revenue for Panchayats, turning land into a “productive community asset”, while taking clean mobility infrastructure beyond cities.
The announcement came at a workshop attended by more than 400 participants. It follows other national efforts to expand charging, including the PM E-DRIVE scheme, which has earmarked funds for public charging stations.
What It Means
Rural India is the next frontier for charging, and the mix of vehicles there is wide: two- and three-wheelers, cars, and commercial vehicles on highways. Sites like these need rugged equipment that copes with heat, dust and variable grid quality, and a mix of AC and DC options. Our EV-RHDC30K-L compact DC charger (about 20–30 kW, OCPP 1.6J) is built for networked operation, and our EV-AC03201T dual-connector AC station (two Type 2 connectors, OCPP 1.6J, RFID) suits shared parking. Indian distributors and brands can work with us through our distributor program or OEM and private-label program.
Related Reading
- EV Charging News: India Approves ₹851 Crore for 8,147 Public Chargers Under PM E-DRIVE
- EV Charging News: India Passes 29,000 Public Charging Stations, Six Times the 2022 Level
- EV Charging News: Delhi Opens Public EV Charging Stations at Five Bus Locations and Adds 150 E-Buses
Key Takeaways
- India’s Ministry of Panchayati Raj signed an MoU with CESL on October 30, 2026.
- EV charging and battery swapping stations will be developed on Panchayat land, including along highways.
- The sites will serve vehicles from two-wheelers to heavy-duty trucks.
- Panchayats gain a new source of local revenue from the land.
