The government has instructed the Central Electricity Authority (CEA) to plan a roadmap for indigenisation of Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) systems critical for power infrastructure to phase out imports by 2030. The instruction comes as reliance on foreign technologies for critical infrastructure may expose utilities to supply chain disruptions.
SCADA is vital to control and monitor the power system in transmission, generation and distribution functional areas. These critical systems enable control over specific devices while verifying that actions are carried out correctly.
In the Prime Minister's sectoral review meeting in December last year, indigenisation of SCADA systems, which is currently being imported, was underscored as an essential priority for boosting cyber-resilience and self-reliance of the power system, as per a statement by the CEA in a report on August 25, 2026.
Furthermore, The Ministry of Power notified on December 12, 2025 that the SCADA system is not to be imported beyond 2030 and efforts have to be initiated for indigenisation of the SCADA system, according to the report.
Also, the CEA stated that it was asked to recommend a trajectory of SCADA indigenisation amid consultations with the concerned stakeholders.
Consequently, a committee was set up under the Chairmanship of Member (Planning), Central Electricity Authority following the approval from the competent authority. The committee aimed to formulate the 'Trajectory of Indigenisation of SCADA System ', which is working in this direction, according to the report.
Responding to this, the CEA stated that rapid power grid evolution requires periodic upgrades of SCADA systems to handle software and hardware, data storage, shortage of spares and emerging requirements for enhanced visualisation and cybersecurity.
The body, serving as an advisory to the Centre on issues regarding the national electricity policy commented that SCADA systems serve as the central nervous system of the National Power Grid, supporting the "One Nation, One Grid, One Frequency" framework via real-time monitoring and control.
