What Happened The Ministry of Power issued a revised order on April 30, 2026, setting phased local content requirements for HVDC LCC-type substations. The schedule: 30% until March 2028, rising to 40% through March 2030, 50% through March 2032, and 60% from April 2032 through March 2035. The framework applies to EPC and turnkey projects under Public Procurement rules.
Why It Matters The phased approach replaces an earlier immediate 60% mandate that domestic manufacturers were not equipped to meet. HVDC systems are central to long-distance bulk power transmission and renewable energy integration. The new timeline gives Indian industry room to build capability in converter transformers, valves, and control systems. The sector represents a $14–15 billion opportunity over the next five to six years.
Industry Context HVDC technology has long been dominated by global suppliers. Indian manufacturers are still developing the skills for component sourcing, testing, and system integration at this level. Companies like Hitachi Energy have committed ₹2,000 crore over five years toward domestic HVDC manufacturing — signalling that serious investment is beginning to follow the policy intent.
Our Take The graduated timeline is a pragmatic acknowledgement of the real engineering gap between conventional AC transmission equipment and HVDC power electronics. Hitting a localisation number on paper matters far less than building the quality assurance and training infrastructure to back it up.
