11 May 2026·PIB

Forum of Regulators (FOR) Marks Historic 100th Meeting and Celebrates 21 Years of Strengthening India’s Power Sector

In this note

1. At a Glance

Forum of Regulators (FOR) is a statutory coordination platform of the Chairperson of CERC and Chairpersons of all State Electricity Regulatory Commissions (SERCs) [2][3].
Constituted under Section 166(2) of the Electricity Act, 2003, vide notification dated 16 February 2005; HQ at New Delhi [2][3].
Conducted its 100th meeting at Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi on 11 May 2026, marking 21 years of operation [1].
Relevant for UPSC as an example of cooperative federalism in regulatory governance of a Concurrent List subject (electricity, Entry 38, List III).

FOR conducted its 100th meeting at Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi (11 May 2026), celebrating 21 years since its 2005 establishment [1].
Event graced by Dr. P. K. Mishra, Principal Secretary to the Prime Minister [1].
Cumulative outputs released: 71 studies, 55 Capacity Building Programmes, 25 Model Regulations, 6 Technical Committee Reports, 37 Working Group Reports [1].

Electricity Act, 2003 consolidated laws on generation, transmission, distribution, trading and use of electricity, replacing the Electricity Act 1910, Electricity (Supply) Act 1948 and Electricity Regulatory Commissions Act 1998 [3].
Section 166(2) empowered the Central Government to constitute the FOR; notification issued 16 Feb 2005 under the Forum of Regulators Rules, 2005 [2][3].
Headquartered in New Delhi; secretarial support provided by CERC [2].
Over 21 years, FOR has produced model regulations later adopted by SERCs in tariff, open access, renewable energy, and grid operations [1].

Parent Ministry: Ministry of Power [1][4].
Statutory base: Section 166(2), Electricity Act, 2003 [3].
Chairperson: Chairperson of the Central Electricity Regulatory Commission (CERC) is ex-officio Chairperson of FOR [2].
Members: Chairpersons of CERC + all SERCs [2].
Secretary: Secretary, CERC is ex-officio Secretary to FOR [2].
HQ: New Delhi [2].
Founded: 16 February 2005 [2].
Outputs (cumulative, as of May 2026): 71 studies; 55 Capacity Building Programmes; 25 Model Regulations; 6 Technical Committee Reports; 37 Working Group Reports [1].

Legal / Constitutional

Electricity is Entry 38, List III (Concurrent List) — both Centre and States legislate; FOR institutionalises inter-regulator harmonisation [3].
FOR is a statutory body (not a constitutional one), traceable solely to Section 166(2) of the 2003 Act [3].

Administrative / Governance

Resolves regulatory fragmentation across CERC + 30+ SERCs by issuing Model Regulations that SERCs can adopt with state-specific tweaks [1][2].
CERC-anchored secretariat ensures continuity and capacity-building (55 programmes) [1].

Economic

Standardisation of tariff principles, open access, ancillary services and RE integration reduces investment risk in power sector [1].
Coordinated regulation underpins the One Nation–One Grid–One Frequency–One Price narrative.

Federal

Acts as a bridge between Union (CERC) and States (SERCs) without overriding state regulatory autonomy — illustrative of cooperative federalism in a sector on the Concurrent List [2][3].

Energy Transition

FOR working groups have addressed renewable purchase obligations, energy storage, smart metering, distribution reform — central to India's net-zero-by-2070 commitments.

11 May 2026: 100th meeting of FOR at Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi; addressed by Dr. P. K. Mishra, Principal Secretary to PM [1].
Release of consolidated milestone data — 71 studies, 25 Model Regulations, 37 Working Group Reports — at the 100th meeting [1].

FOR is constituted under Section 166(2) of the Electricity Act, 2003 [3].
FOR was notified on 16 February 2005 [2].
Chairperson of CERC is ex-officio Chairperson of FOR [2].
FOR's secretariat is provided by CERC; HQ at New Delhi [2].
Parent ministry: Ministry of Power (not MNRE) [1][4].
100th meeting held at Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi on 11 May 2026 [1].
FOR has issued 25 Model Regulations as of May 2026 [1].
FOR has produced 6 Technical Committee Reports & 37 Working Group Reports [1].
Electricity Act, 2003 replaced three earlier laws (1910, 1948, 1998) [3].
Electricity falls under Concurrent List (Entry 38) of the Seventh Schedule.
FOR is a statutory (not constitutional, not autonomous) body [3].
100th meeting addressed by Dr. P. K. Mishra, Principal Secretary to PM [1].

GS-II: Statutory and regulatory bodies; cooperative federalism; Centre-State relations on Concurrent List subjects.
GS-III: Infrastructure — energy; power sector reforms; renewables integration.
Probable stems: 1. "Discuss the role of the Forum of Regulators in harmonising electricity regulation across India's federal structure." (GS-II) 2. "Evaluate the contribution of statutory coordination platforms like FOR to power sector reform and the energy transition." (GS-III) 3. "Electricity, though on the Concurrent List, demands institutional coordination. Examine in light of FOR." (GS-II)

Electricity Act, 2003 — parent legislation enabling FOR.
CERC & SERCs — composition, powers, appellate route.
APTEL (Appellate Tribunal for Electricity) — appeals from CERC/SERC orders.
UDAY / RDSS scheme — DISCOM financial health, linked to regulatory tariff orders.
Electricity (Amendment) Bill drafts — proposed reforms on retail competition, RPO.
Renewable Purchase Obligation (RPO) & PAT scheme — overlap with FOR model regs.
Cross-subsidy & open access — recurring FOR study area.
One Nation One Grid — POSOCO/Grid India operational backbone.

FOR is statutory under Section 166(2), not constitutional, and not created by executive resolution.
Chairperson of FOR = CERC Chairperson, NOT Union Power Minister or Power Secretary.
FOR is under Ministry of Power, not MNRE, despite working on renewables.
FOR ≠ APTEL: FOR coordinates regulators; APTEL hears appeals.
Established 2005, not 2003 (the Act is 2003; the Forum's notification came two years later).