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At East Asia Summit meeting, India outlines 2,000 MW Singapore power link

By CAShorts DeskPublished Updated Source: Ministry of Power, PIB, 8 October 2026

At East Asia Summit meeting, India outlines 2,000 MW Singapore power link
Illustration (AI-generated)

Minister of State for Power Shripad Yesso Naik told the 20th East Asia Summit Energy Ministers' Meeting in Manila on October 8 that India and Singapore are exploring a proposed 2,000 MW cross-border power interconnection. One option is a land corridor of about 3,000 km from Imphal through Myanmar, Thailand and Malaysia. India also backed the ASEAN Power Grid.

Syllabus: GS3 · Infrastructure; GS3 · Environment & Conservation; GS2 · Groupings & Agreements

Why it matters

If the link is built, homes and factories at both ends would have one more source of power when local plants fall short. A utility in India with spare solar electricity at midday could sell it to a buyer in Southeast Asia instead of wasting it. But 2,000 MW is the most the link could carry at any moment, not what it would deliver in a year; actual trade depends on generation, demand and contracts. A 3,000 km land route also needs Myanmar, Thailand and Malaysia to agree, host the line and keep it running. For India, the land option would start in Manipur, giving the North-East a part in energy trade with Southeast Asia under the Act East Policy.

Prelims pointers

  • East Asia Summit: ASEAN-led forum first held in 2005; 19 members, the 11 ASEAN countries plus Australia, China, India, Japan, New Zealand, South Korea, Russia and the US.
  • Association of Southeast Asian Nations: founded in 1967 by the Bangkok Declaration, secretariat in Jakarta; Timor-Leste joined in October 2025. India is a Comprehensive Strategic Partner, not a member.
  • ASEAN Power Grid: a flagship programme under the ASEAN Plan of Action for Energy Cooperation; the Heads of ASEAN Power Utilities/Authorities oversees its implementation.
  • Manipur: capital Imphal; bordered by Myanmar to the east and south, Nagaland to the north, Mizoram to the south and Assam to the west.
  • Megawatt measures power, the rate of supply; a megawatt-hour measures energy. A 1 MW generator running at full output for one hour produces 1 MWh.
  • Non-fossil capacity covers renewables such as solar, wind and hydro, and also nuclear power, which is not renewable because its mined fuel is limited.
  • Nationally Determined Contributions are climate pledges under the Paris Agreement; India's 2030 target, set in its 2022 update, is about 50% of installed power capacity from non-fossil sources.
  • Cross-border electricity trade: under the Ministry of Power's 2018 guidelines, the Designated Authority for approvals is the Member (Power System) of the Central Electricity Authority.

Practise a UPSC-style question

With reference to the East Asia Summit, consider the following statements:

1. The country holding the chair of ASEAN also chairs the East Asia Summit.

2. India takes part in the East Asia Summit because it is a member of ASEAN.

3. The United States and Russia are both members of the East Asia Summit.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

  1. (a) 1 and 2 only
  2. (b) 2 and 3 only
  3. (c) 1 and 3 only
  4. (d) 1, 2 and 3
Show the answer

Answer: (c) 1 and 3 only

1 is correct: the Chair of ASEAN is also the Chair of the East Asia Summit, which is an ASEAN-led forum. 2 is incorrect: India is not an ASEAN member; it is one of the eight non-ASEAN members of the Summit and a Comprehensive Strategic Partner of ASEAN. 3 is correct: the 19 members are the 11 ASEAN countries plus Australia, China, India, Japan, New Zealand, South Korea, Russia and the United States.

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