Association of Renewable Energy Agencies of States (AREAS)

Association of Renewable Energy Agencies of States (AREAS)

Subject :Schemes

Context:Association of Renewable Energy Agencies of States (AREAS)’s 8th Foundation Day celebration held today in Kochi. Shri BhagwanthKhuba, Minister of State for New and Renewable Energy inaugurated the function.

Concept: 

• MNRE took an initiative in this regard in consultation with SNAs, and Association of Renewable Energy Agencies of States (abbreviated as “AREAS) has been formed and registered as a society on 27 August 2014 under Society Registration Act 1860.
• All State Nodal Agencies for Renewable Energy are members of AREAS.
• Hon’ble Union Minister in-charge of New & Renewable Energy is the Ex-Officio Patron of the Association and Secretary, MNRE is the ex-officio President of the Association. All SNAs are the member of the Association.
• Transaction of business of the AREAS to be carried out by an Executive Committee (EC) which is presided over by the President of the AREAS.
• AREAS has been granted registration on 25th July 2016, as General Public Utility Trust/Society of the Income Tax act, 1961 to allow for its exemption from taxation.
• It has also received approval  of the Income Tax Act, 1961 on 25th July 2016 to allow for specified tax benefit to Donors. These exemptions/benefits are valid from Annual Year 2016-17 onwards.
• Vice President to be elected by the members and Joint Secretary, MNRE to be the ex-officio member of EC. In addition, Executive Director, two SNAs from each zone (North, South, East, West and North-East, and UTs) are also members of the Executive Committee.

Under AREAS the following three Standing Committees are constituted:

• Standing Committee on Technology and Resource Assessment
• Standing Committee on Policy and Finance
• Standing Committee on IT & IMS