The Vice President of India Felicitates Winners of National Painting Competition on Energy Conservation 2024 on National Energy Conservation Day

INDEX

National Energy Conservation Awards 2024 (NECA 2024)

  The Bureau of Energy Efficiency (BEE), under the Ministry of Power, is tasked with promoting and regulating energy efficiency and conservation in India, as outlined by the Energy Conservation Act of 2001. To fulfill this mandate, BEE implements a variety of initiatives aimed at enhancing energy efficiency across sectors. These include the Standards and Labeling (S&L) Program for appliances and buildings, the Perform, Achieve and Trade (PAT) scheme for designated consumers, Demand Side Management (DSM) programs targeting agriculture, municipalities, DISCOMs, and Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs), as well as efforts to strengthen State Designated Agencies (SDAs) and increase public awareness through outreach campaigns.

 A key initiative under the awareness and outreach program are the Energy Conservation Awards. To promote awareness of energy efficiency and conservation, the Bureau of Energy Efficiency (BEE), with guidance from the Ministry of Power, recognizes and rewards the efforts of industrial units, institutions, and organizations that have made significant strides in reducing energy consumption. These achievements are felicitated annually on National Energy Conservation Day, held on December 14th, with recipients being honored for their contributions to energy savings and sustainability.

 The National Energy Conservation Awards (NECA) were first presented on December 14, 1991, which was declared as ‘National Energy Conservation Day.’ Since then, the awards have gained significant attention from stakeholders across various sectors, with participation growing year after year. These prestigious awards are presented on Energy Conservation Day by distinguished dignitaries, including the Hon’ble President, the Hon’ble Prime Minister, and the Hon’ble Union Minister of Power, recognizing outstanding contributions to energy conservation and efficiency.

Starting from NECA 2017, the sectors were categorized into three groups, with each group corresponding to a specific year, and this distribution is repeated every three years. The Award Committee, chaired by the Secretary (Power), reviews and approves the sectors eligible for the NECA. The approved sectors of NECA 2024 by the Award Committee are annexed at Annexure – A. Once the sectors are approved, an advertisement is published in prominent newspapers nationwide (Annexure-B), and the call for applications is also promoted through various social media platforms and official websites, inviting submissions from eligible entities within the approved sectors.

The applications submitted by the deadline are evaluated by a Technical Committee, chaired by the Member (Thermal), Central Electricity Authority (CEA), and comprising representatives from the Ministry of Railways, Central Electricity Authority, Energy Efficiency Services Limited (EESL), National Productivity Council (NPC), Central Pulp and Paper Research Institute (CPPRI), and the Bureau of Energy Efficiency (BEE). Following the evaluation, a list of shortlisted awardees is uploaded on the NECA portal for public review and comments.

 Afterward, the Technical Committee’s recommendations are submitted to the Award Committee for final consideration and approval. The selected awardees from various sectors are then honored and felicitated on National Energy Conservation Day on December 14th each year.

2.0       National PAINTING COMPETITION ON Energy Conservation 2024

            The habit of conservation is most effectively introduced and nurtured at a young age, particularly during school years. Children are powerful agents of change, and by equipping them with knowledge and awareness about energy conservation, we can spark their interest in this crucial issue. Preparing students with the right information not only fosters a sense of responsibility but also encourages them to actively engage in and promote energy-saving practices.

To drive ongoing societal change toward energy conservation and efficient energy use, the Ministry of Power has been organizing the National Painting Competition on Energy Conservation since 2005. This initiative aims to engage young minds creatively while raising awareness about the importance of energy conservation. The competition is conducted in three stages: School, State, and National Levels. It is open to students from 5th, 6th, and 7th classes in Group ‘A’, and from 8th, 9th, and 10th grades in Group ‘B’.

 Schools organize painting competitions for both Groups, selecting the two best paintings from each group to represent their school in the State/UT-level competition. The State-level Jury then selects three winners from each group to advance to the National Level Painting Competition. The 1st, 2nd, and 3rd prize winners from the State/UT level competition in both Groups participate in the National Level Painting Competition, held annually on December 11 in Delhi/NCR. A national jury evaluates the paintings and recommends 1st, 2nd, and 3rd prizes, along with 10 Appreciation Prizes in each group. The winners of the National Level Competition are awarded on National Energy Conservation Day, December 14th, and all participants are invited to the event to celebrate their contributions to energy conservation awareness.

An advertisement was released in leading News Papers across the country (Annexure – B), apart from promoting through various social media platforms & website. More than 80 Lacs students across the country participated for the National Painting Competition 2024.  

GLIMPSE OF NECA 2023

GROUP PHOTOGRAPH OF AWARDEES (NECA 2023) WITH THE HON’BLE PRESIDENT OF INDIA   

GROUP PHOTOGRAPH OF AWARDEES (NATIONAL PAINTING COMPETITION 2023) WITH THE HON’BLE PRESIDENT OF INDIA

Annexure-A

Approved Sectors of NECA 2024

Annexure-B

ADVERTISEMENTS FOR NECA & PAINTING COMPETITION 2024

SUMMARY OF NATIONAL ENERGY CONSERVATION AWARDS (NECA) 2024

A total of 752 applications were submitted for NECA 2024. The summary of awards is as follows:

LIST OF AWARDEES – NATIONAL ENERGY CONSERVATION AWARDS (NECA) 2024