India, Jan. 15 -- The Union government plans to revive the small hydropower programme in the 2026 Budget, targeting 1.5 GW capacity.

This initiative, dormant since 2017, aims to double India's hydro capacity to 10 GW over a decade.

Focused on regions like Arunachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand, it seeks to enhance renewable energy in remote areas with Rs 2,500 crore funding.

The Union Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) is in the process of bringing back a small hydropower scheme that is expected to receive fresh allocation in the upcoming Union Budget 2026, according to two officials familiar with the matter.

An exclusive small hydropower policy was introduced in India in November 2009. The policy was revised in July 2014, offerin...