A hand pointing a plain white remote at a split AC on a bedroom wall in the evening — AI-generated picture. The default is where the unit starts. The setting is still yours.

Why your new AC starts at 24 °C

The AC temperature setting of 24 °C is the required default on star-labelled room ACs sold in India since 1 January 2020, and you can still change it, though the Power Ministry says each degree warmer saves about 6 per cent.

From The AC in Your Flat. Updated 4 November 2026.

This one comes straight from government. The Press Information Bureau release of 6 January 2020 says the 24 °C default became mandatory from 1 January 2020 for room ACs under the Bureau of Energy Efficiency's star-labelling programme.

Where did the 24 °C default come from?

The advice came first. In June 2018 the Power Ministry advised makers to set 24 °C as the default, and the minister said every one-degree rise saves 6 per cent of the electricity used. That is the Ministry's estimate, not a promise for your flat. Your savings will depend on the room, the sun and the unit. A 2026 Central Electricity Authority advisory, as reported, repeats the 24 °C advice and adds a reason: less stress on home wiring in a heatwave.

A hand holding an air conditioner remote, with the indoor unit out of focus on the wall behind — The rule covers the setting a new unit starts with. It does not lock the remote.

Does 24 °C feel warm in a humid city?

It can. In Mumbai, Thane or Chennai the problem is often damp air as much as heat. LG India's guide lists Mumbai, Kolkata and Chennai as humid cities where dehumidification should be a priority. Try 24 °C with a ceiling fan on, and give the room time to settle. Keep doors and windows shut, because LG says outside air adds to the water the unit has to deal with.

A row of tall apartment blocks in Chennai under heavy blue-green storm cloud — Chennai's blocks: humid heat, long seasons, long running hours.

Low-rise flats and palm trees in Bandra with a hazy line of towers behind — Bandra: top floors and west-facing rooms take more sun, so the same setting can feel different in the next room.

What does "dry mode" do?

Most units have one, but it varies by maker. Read your manual to see how yours behaves. We couldn't find an Indian government figure for how much it saves, so treat any number you see for it with care.

What to do

Yours to do

Start at 24 °C with a fan, and change one degree at a time.
Keep doors and windows closed while it runs.
Switch off when the room is empty; the 2026 advisory asks for this too.

Leave to the trained person

Readings that suggest the unit can't reach the set temperature at all.

Also asked

Is a lower setting bad for my health?

The minister's 2018 remark called 18 to 21 °C uncomfortable and unhealthy, but neither he nor the release offers health evidence for a home. This site does not give medical advice. The rule is about energy.

Does the rule apply to my old AC?

The notification covers units made, purchased or sold from 1 January 2020. An older AC can start at whatever it was set up for.

Where this came from

Press Information Bureau, 6 January 2020: The notification and its date
The Hans India (ANI), 24 June 2018: The 2018 advice and the 6 per cent remark
SolarQuarter, 10 July 2026, on the Central Electricity Authority advisory: The 2026 advisory, as reported
LG India, AC capacity guide, May 2026: Humid cities and dehumidification

This story rests on those pages, opened or checked by 4 November 2026, and on no tests of our own. Maker pages speak for their makers, and rules and wiring differ by building, so check your own manual.