India headed for top slot in global LED light market

NEW DELHI: India is poised to emerge as the largest market for lighting systems based on LEDs ( light-emitting diodes), thanks to the Narendra Modiled government's UJALA (Unnat Jyoti by Affordable LEDs for All) scheme for replacing all inefficient bulbs with these energy-efficient lamps. “With India selling 770 million LED bulbs every day , the country will soon become the LED capital of the world. Prices of LED bulbs have come down to 55 pence (Rs 52) from over 3.5 pounds (Rs 332) two years ago,“ a government statement quoted power minister Piyush Goyal as telling investors in London on Wednesday .

Today , 12% of all LED lighting systems sold in the world is consumed in India, according to Saurabh Kumar, managing director of Energy Efficiency Services. The company , promoted by state-run power utilities, is the nodal agency for implementing the UJALA scheme.

UJALA has brought down the price of an LED bulb to Rs 85 for a 9-watt on an average.