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 Srinivasa Varma, the country currently has 52,718 public EV charging stations, including 16,561 fast charging stations designed for electric cars.
The government said it has been actively expanding charging infrastructure through financial support 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 establish public EV charging stations across cities and highways, improving charging accessibility nationwide.
To further support EV adoption, the Ministry of Power has issued the Guidelines for Installation and Operation of Electric Vehicle Charging Infrastructure 2024, which lay down standards for an interoperable charging ecosystem, including battery swapping and charging stations. The government has also made the establishment of EV charging stations an unlicensed activity, allowing private companies and entrepreneurs to set up charging infrastructure more easily.
Responding to a query on the 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 Automobile and Auto Components. Under the scheme, eligible original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) receive 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 initiatives. The FAME India Scheme Phase-II, implemented between April 1, 2019, and March 31, 2024, with a total outlay of ₹11,500 crore, has supported the sale of nearly 16.72 lakh electric vehicles, covering electric two-wheelers, three-wheelers, and four-wheelers. The scheme has also facilitated the deployment of 5,197 electric buses as of June 30, 2026, while 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 charging infrastructure development across the country.
