CEA Invites Comments on Draft Cybersecurity and Technical Standards for India’s Power Sector
SDG 7: Affordable & Clean Energy | SDG 9: Industry, Innovation & Infrastructure
Institutions: Ministry of Power
The Central Electricity Authority (CEA) has released two draft regulations under Section 177 of the Electricity Act, 2003, inviting stakeholder comments until 7 November 2025. The drafts—covering cybersecurity and technical standards for power infrastructure—mark a dual reform push to modernise India’s grid governance and operational safety.
The proposed Draft CEA (Cyber Security in Power Sector) Regulations, 2025 aim to institutionalise a uniform cybersecurity framework for generation, transmission, and distribution utilities. They prescribe risk-assessment protocols, data-protection mechanisms, and incident-response obligations, aligned with the National Cyber Security Strategy and the Ministry of Power’s Cyber Security Guidelines (2021). Once notified, these will make cybersecurity compliance a core operational requirement, ensuring real-time resilience against digital threats that could compromise critical grid operations or consumer data.
Separately, the Draft CEA (Technical Standards for Construction of Electrical Plants and Electric Lines) (2nd Amendment) Regulations, 2025 update the 2010 standards to reflect advances in design, materials, and construction practices. The amendments focus on structural reliability, environmental safeguards, and integration readiness for renewable and smart-grid systems. The draft also seeks stakeholder input to harmonise safety norms with international benchmarks and enable faster project approvals for upcoming thermal, hydro, and renewable facilities.
Together, these draft regulations strengthen India’s energy security architecture—one through cyber resilience, the other through technical modernisation—reinforcing the reliability of the power sector as India expands its grid and renewable base under Viksit Bharat 2047.
What is the Central Electricity Authority (CEA)?
The CEA is a statutory body under the Ministry of Power, responsible for developing standards, planning, and coordination across India’s power sector. It issues technical, safety, and operational regulations for utilities and project developers.
Follow the full drafts here: