In what can only be described as another brazen attempt at micromanaging the everyday life of citizens, the Indian government has now turned its sights to your air-conditioner remote.
The Union Power Ministry’s recent announcement mandating that air conditioners—across homes, offices, and even vehicles—can only be set within a range of 20°C to 28°C is a startling overstep in the name of energy efficiency. Once implemented, this blanket rule will mean that regardless of where you live, how you feel, or what you need, you will no longer be able to set your AC below 20°C or above 28°C.
Framed under the garb of sustainability and power conservation, the policy reeks of central planning gone too far. Yes, India faces surging power demand, and yes, energy efficiency is a worthy goal. But must that come at the cost of individual choice? In a democracy, the government should educate, not dictate. Persuade, not police.
Let’s be clear: no one is against conserving energy. But let’s not pretend this new rule is a silver bullet for India’s energy crisis. With record heatwaves gripping the nation, citizens are battling scorching temperatures that routinely cross 45°C. In such conditions, setting an AC to 20°C isn’t a luxury—it’s a necessity. The government’s claim that 24–25°C is the “ideal” comfort range may hold true in labs or dry boardrooms, but it fails spectacularly in India’s real-world settings—particularly in humid, densely populated cities where “real feel” temperatures are far worse.
Further, the government’s timing is baffling. We are in the middle of one of the most intense and prolonged heatwaves in recent history. Yet, rather than investing in robust public infrastructure or increasing subsidies for energy-efficient technologies, the focus is on restricting personal comfort. And let’s not forget, the government continues to impose a steep 28% GST on air-conditioners—treating them as luxuries in a country where cooling is fast becoming a lifeline.
There’s also the issue of enforcement. Will officers begin checking thermostats in cars and homes? Will manufacturers be asked to lock these temperature ranges in hardware? At what point does a regulatory measure become intrusive surveillance? It’s a slippery slope.
In its zeal to project environmental responsibility, the government is once again placing the burden squarely on citizens while failing to hold large-scale polluters and systemic inefficiencies accountable. Energy conservation is important, but it must be pursued through smarter infrastructure, grid modernization, green building codes, and incentives for behavioural change—not through force.
Moreover, the very logic behind this measure is shaky. If the aim is to prevent power surges during peak demand, why isn’t the government tackling inefficiencies in power distribution or building capacity in renewable energy with urgency? Why is the solution always more restriction, more control?
This is not about cooling anymore. It’s about control. From what you watch, to what you wear, to what you eat, and now as to how you cool your room. This is a consistent pattern of creeping authoritarianism disguised as efficiency.
We urge the Union Minister to reconsider this shortsighted and poorly designed policy. Let people decide the temperature of their own homes and cars. Climate change won’t be solved by limiting personal comfort—it will be solved by systemic reform, smart planning, and respect for the rights of individuals.
Until then, this move will remain a chilling example of misplaced priorities and the government’s growing tendency to regulate the trivial while ignoring the substantial.
