India has made exceptional progress in reworking its vitality panorama over the previous decade. From reaching near-universal family electrification and increasing entry to wash cooking gas to changing into one of many world’s fastest-growing renewable vitality markets, it has demonstrated a robust dedication to making sure vitality entry whereas advancing sustainable improvement.
As India seems forward to the targets of vitality self-reliance by 2047 and net-zero emissions by 2070, the following part of the vitality transition would require an more and more built-in strategy to planning and governance. A policy brief launched by the Indian Nationwide Science Academy (INSA) in Might 2026 highlights the significance of a unified nationwide vitality framework that may assist align various vitality assets, applied sciences and establishments in the direction of frequent nationwide aims.
The complexity of India’s vitality system
The necessity for such an strategy is obvious from the dimensions and complexity of India’s vitality system. Whereas home vitality manufacturing continues to increase, there’s a dependence on imports for a major share of oil and pure fuel necessities. On the similar time, vitality demand is anticipated to develop steadily as financial improvement, industrialisation and urbanisation proceed. Managing these a number of priorities, vitality safety, affordability, sustainability and financial development, requires coordinated planning throughout sectors and fuels.
India has already established sturdy foundations via initiatives such because the Saubhagya Scheme, the Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana, and bold renewable vitality programmes. Renewable vitality put in capability has grown from roughly 40 GW in 2015 to roughly 260 GW by 2025, reflecting a dedication to diversify the vitality combine. Because the vitality ecosystem turns into extra various, nevertheless, larger coordination amongst era, transmission, storage, distribution and rising applied sciences will change into more and more essential.
How the framework works
The INSA coverage transient proposes a framework constructed round 4 mutually reinforcing pillars: adequacy, entry, affordability and acceptable sustainability.
First, adequacy focuses on guaranteeing dependable and diversified vitality provides via a balanced portfolio of typical and rising vitality sources, supported by fashionable infrastructure, vitality storage and digital applied sciences. The target is to strengthen vitality resilience whereas lowering long-term vulnerabilities.
Second, entry emphasises dependable and equitable vitality companies for all residents. Constructing on the nation’s achievements in electrification and clear cooking entry, the framework advocates strengthening last-mile supply, enhancing service high quality and increasing decentralised vitality options the place acceptable.
Third, affordability recognises {that a} profitable vitality transition should stay economically viable for households, companies and industries. The framework highlights the function of modern financing mechanisms, environment friendly markets and consumer-focused safeguards in supporting an inclusive transition.
The fourth pillar, acceptable sustainability, underscores the significance of pursuing sustainability in a fashion that’s aligned with India’s developmental priorities and useful resource endowments. Quite than adopting a one-size-fits-all strategy, the framework advocates options that mirror India’s distinctive social, financial and environmental context. This consists of assist for native communities, workforce improvement and region-specific transition pathways.
The coverage transient additionally identifies round financial system practices and carbon seize, utilisation and storage (CCUS) as essential cross-cutting enablers that may complement renewable vitality deployment and contribute to lowering emissions from industrial sectors.
Recognising that vitality transitions happen over many years, the framework proposes a phased strategy. Close to-term priorities embrace strengthening infrastructure, accelerating renewable vitality deployment, supporting rising applied sciences corresponding to inexperienced hydrogen, and creating institutional mechanisms that may facilitate long-term coordination. Over time, the emphasis would shift towards deeper integration of low-carbon applied sciences, expanded use of bio-resources and the event of a extra interconnected and resilient vitality ecosystem.
Viewing vitality as entire
At its core, the framework highlights the worth of viewing India’s vitality system as an built-in entire. Coal, renewables, biomass, pure fuel, waste-to-energy techniques and rising clear applied sciences every have a job to play in supporting the nation’s improvement aspirations. Their effectiveness will be enhanced via larger coordination and long-term strategic planning.
India’s vitality transition just isn’t solely about increasing capability; it’s about making a resilient, inexpensive and sustainable vitality system able to supporting future development. By offering a standard framework for aligning various vitality pathways, the proposed strategy affords a constructive highway map for advancing nationwide priorities whereas strengthening vitality safety for generations to return.
Anjan Ray is Funding Accomplice, Navam Capital and former Director, CSIR-Indian Institute of Petroleum; Famida Khan is Challenge Scientist-II, Indian Nationwide Science Academy. This text is predicated on the INSA Coverage Temporary,A Unified National Energy Policy Framework for India: Adequacy, Access, Affordability and Appropriate Sustainability, launched in Might 2026 by the INSA-Centre for Science, Expertise, Innovation and Coverage (CSTIP)
Printed – July 02, 2026 12:08 am IST
