On Friday (May 22, 2026), the Ministry of Power said electricity demand had broken all previous records, with peak demand rising to nearly 271 GW on Thursday (May 21, 2026). The government has highlighted that such record demands are being met, presenting it as evidence of the strength of India’s electricity system. Yet reports of power cuts from many parts of the country continue to surface. Even while stressing preparedness, the Ministry also urged consumers to use electricity judiciously.

India’s peak power deficit as reported on Friday (May 22, 2026) stood at about 1.7 GW, according to Grid-India. This would have translated into load shedding and blackouts in some areas.