Chandigarh, Dec 15: Chandigarh has secured first place in the National Energy Conservation Awards (NECA) 2025, winning the Group–5 category for Union Territories and select states, officials said.
The award ceremony took place at Vigyan Bhawan, New Delhi, on National Energy Conservation Day, December 14, with President Droupadi Murmu presenting the honours to Chief Secretary H. Rajesh Prasad and Chief Engineer C.B. Ojha. The awards recognise states and UTs that achieve significant outcomes in energy efficiency and promote sustainable practices.
Chandigarh’s success stems from a series of energy-focused measures, including procurement of star-rated appliances for government offices, adoption of the Energy Conservation Building Code (ECBC), rollout of the State Energy Efficiency Action Plan (SEEAP), and promotion of electric cooking along with other sustainability initiatives.
“The collective efforts of all departments and the administration have helped Chandigarh achieve measurable improvements in energy efficiency,” said CB Ojha. “This recognition reflects the UT’s commitment to sustainable growth and efficient energy use.”
The NECA rankings are based on the State Energy Efficiency Index (SEEI), developed by BEE in collaboration with the Alliance for an Energy Efficient Economy (AEEE). The index evaluates annual performance across sectors such as industry, buildings, transport, municipal services, and other cross-sectoral areas, factoring in renewable energy adoption, policy implementation, and infrastructure development.
