With the government investing heavily in expanding India’s EV infrastructure, private entities are now empowered to set up EV charging stations under new guidelines.
The Indian government has declared the establishment of electric vehicle charging stations (EVCS) as an unlicensed activity, allowing private entities to set up charging stations in line with guidelines issued by the Ministry of Power (MoP) on 17 September 2024.
Acknowledging this as the government’s broader effort to enhance the country’s EV adoption, this update was provided by Minister of State for Heavy Industries, Bhupathiraju Srinivasa Varma, in a written reply to the Lok Sabha.
To further support the development of EV infrastructure, the government has allocated significant funds under two major schemes: ₹9.125 billion under the Faster Adoption and Manufacturing of Hybrid and Electric Vehicles (FAME-II) and ₹20 billion under the PM E-DRIVE scheme.
These initiatives aim to ensure the deployment of sufficient public EV charging stations nationwide, including in Tier-II cities and rural areas.
According to Bharat Heavy Electricals Limited (BHEL), 29,151 public EV charging stations have been installed across India. The FAME-II and PM E-DRIVE schemes have played a crucial role in this nationwide expansion.
Under the FAME-II scheme, ₹6.3344 billion of the allocated amount has already been utilised for the development of public charging infrastructure.
Additionally, the Ministry of Heavy Industries (MHI) issued operational guidelines on 26 September 2025, outlining the framework for the further expansion of EV public charging stations.
These guidelines also enable participation by both public and private entities, ensuring a more inclusive approach to infrastructure development.
