By: Piyush Verma
India has already achieved its one of the Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) target of securing 50% of installed electricity capacity from non-fossil sources — five years ahead of the 2030 deadline. This early achievement underscores India’s ability to scale renewables at a speed few anticipated. Yet India retains important structural vulnerabilities, notably its heavy reliance on imported petrol, diesel, and gas, a dependency that costs the economy over USD $175 Billion each year. Among other topics discussed in his annual Independence Day address, Indian prime minister Narendra Modi set out a vision for energy independence and leadership. The speech offered a clear picture of how the country intends to weave together its economic, environmental, and geopolitical priorities.
The prime minister’s annual speech presented energy self-reliance as not merely as an economic aspiration but a question of sovereignty. Reducing the fuel import bill, he argued, would free up resources for poverty alleviation, rural development, and youth opportunities. The linkage was clear: energy security is a foundation for long-term competitiveness. The prime minister’s acknowledgment of devastating landslides, cloudbursts, and flash floods that have recently struck different parts of the country signaled that, for India, adaptation is not an afterthought, but an essential pillar of development.
To achieve its objectives, the prime minister sketched an ambitious roadmap for further expanding India’s clean and strategic energy base, spanning solar, hydropower, and nuclear energy. Solar capacity, he noted, has grown thirty-fold in the past 11 years, demonstrating the scalability of both distributed and utility-scale models. Hydropower is set for expansion through new dams that will generate clean electricity and provide critical balancing capacity to support the integration of more renewables like solar and wind into India’s energy mix. On nuclear energy, ten reactors are under construction, with plans to increase capacity ten-fold by 2047. Parallel investments in the Green Hydrogen Mission aim to position India at the forefront of emerging clean fuels.
In his speech, Modi also launched the National Deep Water Exploration Mission, aimed at tapping domestic oil and gas reserves as a strategic buffer during the clean energy transition. Rather than signaling a return to fossil dependence, this initiative reflects India’s determination to insulate itself from price shocks, supply disruptions, and geopolitical uncertainty — ensuring that the path to renewables is underpinned by stability, affordability, and national security. Together, these measures reflect a deliberate strategy to diversify across technologies and resources, building resilience and flexibility in an era of shifting global energy dynamics.
Recognizing the strategic value of resource security, Modi also highlighted the National Critical Mineral Mission, now exploring over 1,200 sites. The aim is to reduce import dependence for materials essential to clean energy, defense, and advanced manufacturing. His emphasis on domestic electric vehicle battery and component production underscores a broader push to capture more of the clean tech value chain within India’s borders.
Crucially, the energy and climate agenda described by India’s prime minister went beyond domestic policy to project India’s role as a leader in the global transition. By meeting clean energy targets ahead of schedule, expanding nuclear and hydrogen capacity, and securing critical mineral supply chains, India is positioning itself as a model for climate-conscious growth that does not compromise on economic or strategic goals. The underlying message to the world was clear: it is possible to grow rapidly, decarbonize aggressively, and strengthen national autonomy all at once.
As India approaches its centenary of independence in 2047, its objective is an energy-independent, carbon-resilient economy capable of withstanding climate shocks, reducing strategic vulnerabilities, and leading in emerging clean technologies. Delivering on this vision will require sustained commitment and collaboration across government, industry, and civil society. For global investors and technology partners, this ambition translates into significant opportunities in renewables, hydrogen, nuclear, and electric mobility. It also opens pathways for deeper supply chain integration, where India can serve both as a hub for clean energy manufacturing and as a trusted partner in securing critical minerals and technologies for the global transition. The world has a stake in India’s energy journey, and the choices made today will shape not just its own future, but the trajectory of the global energy transition.
Piyush Verma is Senior Fellow for the Energy & Climate program at ORF America.