The Union Cabinet on September 3 approved the proposal for setting up of an autonomous 'National Institute of Solar Energy' (NISE) to assist the Ministry and function as the apex national centre for research and technology development and related activities in the area of solar energy technologies in the country.

The National Institute of Solar Energy (NISE) is to be set up immediately by converting the Gurgaon-based Solar Energy Centre (SEC) with a long term vision to develop it as a world class institute, the government said in a statement.

Solar energy technologies are evolving continuously and the proposal to set up the National Institute of Solar Energy is an innovative idea which will accelerate the process to support induction of the latest technologies to ensure maximum cost benefit and lead to early commercialization. Solar power project developers will be motivated to use more efficient and optimized solar components.

Setting up of an apex national centre for Solar Energy is a part of the JNNSM, which was considered by the Prime Minister`s Council on Climate Change in August, 2009. The Jawaharlal Nehru National Solar Mission (JNNSM) and other related proposals were approved by the Govt in November, 2009.