Karnataka secures third rank in NITI Aayog's national electric mobility assessment

Karnataka scored 73 points to secure the third position nationally in the India Electric Mobility Index (IEMI) 2025, released by NITI Aayog, establishing itself among the country's top two large States in electric vehicle adoption.

The assessment, unveiled at Vigyan Bhawan in New Delhi, placed Delhi at the top with a score of 84, followed by Maharashtra with 78 points. Karnataka's ranking placed it ahead of Chandigarh, which scored 71, and Goa, with 65 points. The Index designates jurisdictions scoring 65 and above as top performers.

Leading Charging Infrastructure

The State recorded the country's highest score of 97 in Charging Infrastructure Readiness (CIR), demonstrating its progress in building the network necessary to support electric vehicle adoption. Additional Chief Secretary for Energy Gaurav Gupta, receiving the recognition, said Karnataka currently operates 6,979 EV charging stations, including 4,896 in Bengaluru.

Karnataka and Maharashtra are the only two large States classified as top performers in the national assessment, reflecting their advancement in electric mobility.

Year-on-Year Progress

The State has improved its standing from the previous edition. In IEMI 2024, Karnataka ranked fourth in the country with a score of 64 and was listed in the top performers' category after Delhi, Maharashtra and Chandigarh. The nine-point increase in its score marks a significant improvement in both policy frameworks and implementation outcomes.

Policy Framework and Sales Performance

Gaurav Gupta said Karnataka was the first State in India to introduce a dedicated electric vehicle policy in 2017, covering vehicle sales, charging infrastructure and dedicated manufacturing zones. The State's initiatives include Bescom EV Mithra, a unified electric vehicle charging app, a single-window clearance system and an EV Accelerator Cell.

EV sales are on the rise, with penetration close to 15% during the first five months of FY 2026, 27, Gupta added. The State has recorded the third-highest cumulative EV sales in the country after Uttar Pradesh and Maharashtra.

Elaborating on registrations, he said Karnataka accounts for 8.81% of India's overall EV registrations. The State ranks second in both two-wheeler and four-wheeler registrations, after Maharashtra. In e-bus registrations, Karnataka holds the third position, after Delhi and Maharashtra.

Development Partnership

This is the second edition of IEMI, developed by NITI Aayog in collaboration with WRI India. The Index evaluates the progress of States and Union Territories towards electric mobility, covering both policy frameworks and implementation outcomes.

Energy and Tourism Minister K.J. George said Karnataka will continue to strengthen its electric mobility ecosystem through supportive policies, infrastructure development and initiatives that facilitate wider adoption of electric vehicles.

Source: The Hindu