The Central Electricity Authority (CEA) has laid out a roadmap to localise the production of systems that enable real-time monitoring and supervisory control of the electricity network. The plan covers both the software and hardware used in Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition, or SCADA, systems.
In a report published on Tuesday, the power ministry body proposed a phased trajectory for developing indigenous SCADA capabilities, with the bulk of the identified software and hardware modules targeted for development by 2028-29. The broader objective is to eliminate import dependence, with the Ministry of Power having decided that SCADA systems should not be imported beyond 2030.
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SCADA systems collect and transmit critical data from power plants and substations to control centres, giving grid operators real-time visibility over equipment and enabling supervisory control of the electricity network. They form the front end for Energy Management Systems used in generation and transmission, as well as Distribution Management Systems.
The initiative is part of New Delhi’s broader self-reliance push, but the report also flags strategic concerns around dependence on foreign original equipment manufacturers.
National grid at the centre of the push
The CEA described SCADA systems as the “central nervous system of the National Power Grid”, enabling the “One Nation, One Grid, One Frequency” framework through real-time monitoring and control.It said dependence on foreign OEMs and proprietary technologies has created interoperability constraints, delayed customisation and system upgrades, and increased reliance on external support services.
“In an increasingly complex geo-political landscape, such dependence poses potential risks to national energy security,” the report said.
“Reliance on foreign technologies for critical infrastructure may expose utilities to supply chain disruptions, technology access constraints, delayed availability of upgrades and support, and limited transparency associated with proprietary or ‘black box’ systems,” it added.
The current systems also suffer from vendor lock-in.
The CEA said proprietary database architectures and engineering tools can make modifications dependent on OEM intervention, while differences in implementation can limit interoperability and complicate the integration of third-party applications.
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Local content remains below 20%
The power ministry had earlier prescribed a minimum local content requirement of 50% for SCADA systems. However, the CEA’s assessment found that actual local content in grid SCADA remains below 20%, with exemptions having been granted in the past.
The report noted that software accounts for about 25% of the cost of a SCADA system, while hardware accounts for the remaining 75%, making the localisation of equipment a more gradual and challenging process.
The committee’s mandate, however, goes beyond meeting minimum local-content thresholds. It has recommended a phased approach aimed at eventually eliminating import dependence and ensuring that SCADA systems are available from Indian entities.
Software and hardware roadmap
The CEA finalised a timeline covering 38 software modules and 25 hardware components identified by Grid India.
The software roadmap includes core SCADA applications, communication systems, historian and data storage platforms, Energy Management System functions such as state estimation and contingency analysis, automatic generation control, cybersecurity applications, load forecasting and network management systems.
The committee found that 36 of the 38 software modules could be developed in the short term, although real-time testing and validation through digital twins and parallel operation at State Load Despatch Centres would remain key challenges.
The report also said 16 of the 25 identified hardware components were expected to be ready within two years. These include equipment such as servers, routers, switches, storage systems, cybersecurity appliances, workstations and other control-centre infrastructure.
For telecom and general IT networking equipment, the power sector will follow the indigenisation trajectory laid down by the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology and the Department of Telecommunications under their respective Make in India frameworks.
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Testing, pilots and funding support
Besides manufacturing and development, the roadmap calls for a dedicated ecosystem to test and certify indigenous SCADA systems.
The committee recommended establishing a testing platform within two years, with government funding, to simulate operating conditions and validate cybersecurity requirements. It also called for pilot projects under State, regional and national load despatch centres to test indigenous software and hardware in real-world conditions alongside existing systems.
SLDC Odisha has volunteered to provide a testing environment for pilot implementation.
The report said institutions including STQC and CPRI have capabilities in cybersecurity assessment, certification and equipment testing, but a more comprehensive platform would be needed for end-to-end validation of indigenous SCADA modules.
Government financial support will also be necessary, the committee said, with the Power System Development Fund, or PSDF, identified as a possible source.
National SCADA Mission proposed
To drive implementation, the CEA has proposed formalising an institutional mechanism, either through a National SCADA Mission or a specialised working group under the Ministry of Power and the CEA.
For development and integration, the report suggested two possible models. Under one, a government PSU or institution with SCADA experience, such as C-DAC, could be nominated. The alternative is a collaboration or consortium model, under which Power Grid or Grid India could invite expressions of interest from capable entities.
The final choice of the institutional and development models has been left to the power ministry. The report makes clear, however, that meeting the proposed timeline will depend on adequate funding, a testing ecosystem and coordinated implementation support.