Solar photovoltaics (PV) in India started 50 years ago in 1976, when the public sector company Central Electronics Ltd. Started making solar cells and solar modules, aimed primarily at deployment in rural and remote areas. To celebrate this milestone, NCPRE, together with IIT Bombay’s Photovoltaics Technology and Innovation Centre (PoTIC) organized a 1-day Event, "Harnessing the Sun for 50 Years: Commemorating the Golden Jubilee of Solar Photovoltaics in India" on January 28th, 2026 at the Prof. B. Nag Auditorium, IIT Bombay. Several of the original pioneers who were involved in solar PV from the earliest years came for the Event and gave talks about their experiences – the struggles, the excitement and the joys of success. IIT Bombay’s Director, Prof. Shireesh Kedare (who is himself a veteran of solar energy) gave the Keynote Address. The talks by the pioneers were given by Dr. Bharat Bhargava (ex-CEL and ex- MNRE), Mr. S. K. Sangal (ex-CEL), Mr. Ivan Saha (Reliance Infrastructure and ex-ISRO), Dr. Lawrence Kazmerski (NREL), Mr. Hemant Lamba (Auroville), Dr. S. P. Gonchaudhuri (ex- WBREDA), Dr. Rajiv Arya (ex-Solarex and ex-CEO Moser Baer Solar), Prof. Viresh Dutta (IIT Delhi), Mr. K. Subramanya (ex- CEO Tata BP Solar) and Dr. O. S. Sastry (ex-DG NISE and ex- SEC). In addition to these talks, there were also inputs from other veterans such as Prof. Vikram Kumar (ex-Director NPL), Dr. Vineet Saini (DST), Dr. Sushil Kumar (NPL), Dr. Satyendra Kumar (RSOLEC and ex-IIT Kanpur), Mr. Goutam Samanta (ex-CEL and ex-Moser Baer), Dr. Jai Prakash (NISE), Prof, K. L. Narasimhan (ex-TIFR and NCPRE) and Prof. B. M. Arora (ex- TIFR and NCPRE). The Event was attended by about 120 participants, including about 50 students. The audience congratulated the pioneers on their foresight and perseverance through the early years which has now resulted in rapid advances in solar PV in India.