India Uses Renewable Energy Push To Boost Jobs And Investment

NEW DELHI-India is increasingly aligning its development agenda with climate action, integrating renewable energy, energy efficiency and green industrial policy into economic planning rather than treating environmental goals as separate priorities, a new report has said.

The report from Vietnam Times said India’s climate journey increasingly reflects a broader transformation in its development model, with climate policies designed to strengthen energy security, boost manufacturing, attract investment and generate employment rather than slow economic growth.

“The country’s approach demonstrates how climate policies can simultaneously strengthen energy security, encourage manufacturing, attract investment, generate employment and improve technological capabilities,” the publication said.

India’s climate strategy has evolved from the 2008 National Action Plan on Climate Change, which introduced eight National Missions covering renewable energy, enhanced energy efficiency, sustainable habitat, water conservation, sustainable agriculture, Himalayan ecosystem protection, Green India and strategic knowledge for climate change.

The report highlighted the progress of these programmes, with the National Solar Mission emerging as one of the most visible pillars of India’s clean energy transformation, while the Perform, Achieve and Trade (PAT) scheme encouraged greater industrial energy efficiency across energy-intensive sectors.

The UJALA LED programme and the National Green Hydrogen Mission are also being used to drive industrial competitiveness while cutting emissions.

The report said the rapid growth in solar; wind and hybrid projects has been supported by incentives for domestic solar manufacturing under the Production Linked Incentive scheme, along with policies to scale green hydrogen and support decarbonization in hard-to-abate sectors.

Government estimates indicate that the National Green Hydrogen Mission could reduce dependence on imported fossil fuels while attracting substantial private investment and creating new employment opportunities across the clean energy value chain.

The Faster Adoption and Manufacturing of Electric Vehicles (FAME) programme, along with complementary state-level policies, has also helped accelerate the adoption of electric buses, two-wheelers and passenger vehicles.

The report noted that India’s climate strategy is gaining international visibility, with global climate summits extending the country’s experience with climate missions into international partnerships, particularly with developing countries seeking affordable pathways to clean energy and climate resilience. (IANS)