India added a remarkable 26,342.06 MW of new solar photovoltaic (PV) capacity during the first half of calendar year 2026 (January–June), reflecting the country’s strong momentum in renewable energy deployment. Gujarat emerged as the biggest contributor by commissioning 7,690.64 MW, accounting for 29.20% of all new installations during the period. Rajasthan followed with 6,659.46 MW, representing 25.28%, while Tamil Nadu secured the third position by adding 2,456.65 MW, contributing 9.33% of the total. Together, these three states were responsible for nearly 64% of India’s new solar capacity additions in the first six months of the year, highlighting their continued leadership in the country’s clean energy transition.
Maharashtra ranked fourth in terms of new installations, adding 2,251.42 MW, followed by Uttar Pradesh with 1,966.14 MW and Andhra Pradesh with 1,680.49 MW. Karnataka contributed 856.03 MW, while Madhya Pradesh added 514.88 MW during the same period. Other states, including Kerala, Odisha, Chhattisgarh, Assam and Haryana, also recorded steady additions, although at a comparatively smaller scale. Several northeastern states and union territories reported limited capacity additions, indicating that solar deployment remains concentrated in a few leading regions.
The strong installation activity in the first half of 2026 has pushed India’s cumulative solar PV installed capacity to 162,152 MW (162 GW) by the end of June 2026. The latest state-wise data shows that Rajasthan, Gujarat and Maharashtra continue to dominate the country’s solar landscape, together accounting for nearly 60% of India’s total installed solar capacity.
Rajasthan retained its position as the country’s largest solar state with a cumulative installed capacity of 43,317.81 MW, representing 26.71% of the national total. Gujarat remained close behind with 33,220.04 MW, accounting for 20.49%, while Maharashtra occupied the third position with 20,312.37 MW, contributing 12.53%. These three states have established themselves as the backbone of India’s solar sector through large-scale utility projects, favourable policies and strong transmission infrastructure.
Tamil Nadu ranked fourth with an installed solar capacity of 14,121.46 MW, giving it a market share of 8.71%, while Karnataka followed with 11,535.04 MW, accounting for 7.11% of the country’s cumulative installations.
The next group of major solar markets included Andhra Pradesh with 8,069.76 MW, Madhya Pradesh with 6,332.42 MW, Uttar Pradesh with 5,788.82 MW, Telangana with 5,165.10 MW, and Haryana with 2,802.18 MW. In addition, states such as Kerala, Chhattisgarh, Punjab, and Odisha have each crossed the 1 GW milestone, demonstrating that solar energy adoption is steadily expanding beyond the traditional high-capacity states.
The latest figures underline the continued dominance of western and southern India in solar development. Gujarat and Rajasthan not only remain the largest cumulative solar markets but also led new capacity additions during the first half of 2026, reflecting their strong project pipelines and sustained investments. Tamil Nadu’s impressive growth further reinforced its position among the country’s leading renewable energy hubs. With cumulative solar PV capacity now exceeding 162 GW, India continues to make rapid progress towards its renewable energy ambitions, supported by large-scale project development, growing electricity demand and increasing investments across multiple states.
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