India’s energy transition has moved beyond intent — it is now entering a decisive phase of integration, industry and government leaders declared at the FICCI India Energy Summit.
Bhupinder Singh Bhalla, Former Secretary, Ministry of New & Renewable Energy, Government of India, said the country is shifting gears from execution to integration and must now align policy, strengthen Centre–state coordination, and deepen global partnerships.
“With cohesive policy direction, collaborative governance, and global engagement, India can scale its transition in a structured and confident manner while sustaining economic growth,” he said.
Bhalla positioned green hydrogen as central to India’s decarbonisation strategy, especially for sectors where electrification is not viable.
"Decarbonisation must therefore move from being policy-driven to market-driven, and that is where carbon markets become critical. While it may not be the sole solution, it is set to play a critical role in transforming industries like steel, refining, fertilizers, and heavy transport.
"To unlock its full potential, demand aggregation, pilot deployments, and targeted viability gap support will be essential in the early stages. As scale improves and costs decline, green hydrogen can become a transformative force in India’s low-carbon industrial transition,” he emphasized.
He cautioned that renewable expansion alone will not deliver net-zero outcomes. Heavy industries and MSMEs remain the toughest frontier.
“This transition demands not only new technologies like green hydrogen and carbon capture, but also strong economic signals that make low-carbon choices commercially viable. Decarbonisation must therefore move from being policy-driven to market-driven, and that is where carbon markets become critical,’’ he noted.
Bhalla underscored that a robust carbon trading framework could anchor the country’s climate strategy.
“If implemented effectively, India’s emerging carbon trading framework can transform climate ambition into measurable economic action, making decarbonisation not just an environmental necessity, but a competitive advantage highlight,’’ he added.
Abhay Bakre, Mission Director, National Green Hydrogen Mission, Ministry of New & Renewable Energy, stressed that energy reform must power economic growth — not constrain it.
“Energy is the backbone of GDP, but growth depends not just on more supply, it rests on three pillars - efficiency, renewables, and smart fuel switching. For India, the goal is to provide each sector with the right energy, not simply reduce consumption. Today, the key barrier is the disconnect between energy supply and GDP creation, and closing this gap is essential to ensure transition strengthens the economic growth,” he added.
Bakre noted that renewable adoption must be tailored to sectoral needs, infrastructure readiness, and national priorities.
From the states, Uttar Pradesh signalled aggressive intent. Narendra Bhooshan, Additional Chief Secretary, UPNEDA, said transition momentum hinges on faster state-level execution and affirmed that Uttar Pradesh is ready to scale implementation.
Inviting industry investment, he said, “Biogas is not just a waste management solution, it is a rural economic opportunity and a clean energy pathway that also supports farmer income and addresses stubble management. With stable policy, faster clearances, assured offtake, and long-term price certainty, Uttar Pradesh can convert agricultural residue into reliable green fuel at scale and move bioenergy from pilot stage to a mainstream pillar of its energy transition.”
Industry leaders warned that ambition must be matched by infrastructure reform.
Avinash Rao, Co-Chair, FICCI RE CEOs Committee and Managing Director & CEO, Mahindra Susten, said, “India’s energy demand is set to rise rapidly as our economy grows, but achieving Net Zero will require more than adding renewable capacity. It demands urgent action on grid congestion, faster transmission expansion, timely closure of pending PPAs, and large-scale deployment of storage.”
Suresh Manglani, Co-Chair, FICCI Hydrocarbons Committee, and CEO, Adani Total Gas Ltd, called for balanced energy coexistence.
“India’s journey to net zero target will be defined not by one fuel replacing another, but by structured energy coexistence, where renewables, natural gas, biofuels, and emerging technologies grow together to power economic expansion. Cleaner fuel adoption should strengthen competitiveness, protect jobs, and accelerate industrial growth, proving that sustainability and economic development can advance hand in hand.”
Vijay Kumar Srivastava, COO & Whole Time Director, Jubilant Ingrevia Ltd, emphasized India’s global role, stating that as a G20 nation, the country is not merely participating in climate discussions but shaping them.
Pankaj Satija, Co-Chair, FICCI Mining Committee and Executive Vice President, JSW Group, reinforced the urgency of action, stating that the transition is inevitable and must be time-bound, with conventional and renewable sources advancing in parallel alongside electrification and energy efficiency.
The message from the summit was clear: India’s energy transition is no longer a policy aspiration — it is an economic strategy, and execution at scale will determine its success.
