**Government Dismisses SECI Chairman Rameshwar Prasad Gupta**
The Union government has officially terminated the services of Rameshwar Prasad Gupta, the Chairman and Managing Director (CMD) of the Solar Energy Corporation of India (SECI). His tenure was set to conclude next month. In a formal notification issued on Saturday, the Department of Personnel and Training stated, “The Appointments Committee of the Cabinet has approved the termination of services of Shri Rameshwar Prasad Gupta, IAS, as Chairman & Managing Director, Solar Energy Corporation of India Ltd., Ministry of New & Renewable Energy, effective immediately.” The notification did not provide any specific reasons for his dismissal. Gupta refrained from commenting on the matter when contacted.
Gupta, an officer from the 1987 batch of the Gujarat cadre, previously served as Secretary in the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change before retiring in 2021. He joined SECI in June 2023. With a degree in aerospace engineering from IIT Kanpur, Gupta has also held positions at Niti Aayog and the Ministry of Coal, bringing extensive experience in corporate management, economics, statistics, planning, and program implementation.
This development is particularly noteworthy as SECI is responsible for tendering 20 GW of renewable energy projects annually over the coming years. The organization also aims to establish 10 GW of its own solar capacity and plans to go public by FY27.
Recently, SECI has faced several controversies, including its involvement in the US Securities and Exchange Commission’s indictment of the Adani Group for alleged bribery amounting to $250 million to secure power purchase agreements for solar projects in Andhra Pradesh. Additionally, Reliance Power was accused of submitting fake bid documents to SECI for a renewable energy tender. Last November, US prosecutors indicted Gautam Adani and other executives for alleged bribery. Gupta previously stated that SECI would not review the order or initiate an investigation, asserting that there was no basis for such actions.
On November 6, SECI barred Reliance Power and its subsidiary, Reliance NU BESS, from participating in tenders for three years due to the submission of fraudulent documents. However, this order was later rescinded following a stay from the Delhi High Court. Earlier this month, Reliance Power’s subsidiary, Reliance NU Suntech Private Ltd, signed a 25-year power purchase agreement with SECI.
Established in 2011, SECI acts as the implementing agency for the development of solar, wind, and hybrid projects to meet the country’s Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs). To achieve these goals, SECI issues tenders for the selection of renewable energy developers for projects across India.
**FAQ**
**What led to the termination of Rameshwar Prasad Gupta from SECI?**
The government has not disclosed specific reasons for Gupta’s termination, and he has declined to comment on the matter.
