Chandigarh, Dec 15: The Chandigarh administration has won first place in the National Energy Conservation Awards (NECA) 2025 in the Group–5 category, which includes Union Territories and select states, for its performance in energy conservation and efficiency.
The awards, presented annually by the Bureau of Energy Efficiency (BEE) under the Ministry of Power, were conferred on National Energy Conservation Day, December 14. The ceremony was held at Vigyan Bhawan, New Delhi, where President Droupadi Murmu handed over the award to Chief Secretary H. Rajesh Prasad and Chief Engineer C.B. Ojha of the Chandigarh administration.
Chandigarh’s ranking reflects several initiatives aimed at improving energy efficiency. These include mandatory procurement of minimum star-rated appliances for government buildings, implementation of the State Energy Efficiency Action Plan (SEEAP), notification of the Energy Conservation Building Code (ECBC), promotion of electric cooking, and various demand-side management measures.
“Winning this award is a recognition of our sustained efforts to make Chandigarh a model for energy efficiency and sustainable practices,” said Rajesh Prasad. “Our administration has worked closely with departments across sectors to implement policies that deliver measurable results.”
The NECA award is determined based on the State Energy Efficiency Index (SEEI), which evaluates performance across buildings, industry, transport, municipal services, and cross-sectoral initiatives, taking into account policy execution, institutional mechanisms, renewable energy adoption, and infrastructure development.
