India’s quest to achieve Net Zero by 2070 gained fresh momentum as Union Minister of State for New & Renewable Energy, Shripad Yesso Naik, called upon scientists, industry leaders, startups and young researchers to make India a global hub of green hydrogen innovation.

Addressing the valedictory session of the first Green Hydrogen R&D Conference organised by the Ministry of New & Renewable Energy (MNRE) under the National Green Hydrogen Mission, Shri Naik said the two-day event had brought together the finest minds to chart the country’s path towards a clean, secure and self-reliant energy future.

 Naik said that India has embarked on an ambitious journey to achieve Net Zero by 2070 and to position itself as a global leader in clean energy. “At the heart of this journey lies green hydrogen, a fuel that promises to decarbonise our hardest-to-abate sectors, open new trade frontiers, and create a cleaner and more secure future,” he said.

MNRE has already supported more than 200 R&D projects in renewable energy, fuel cells, hydrogen, and storage technologies. Dedicated funding, testing facilities, and incubation programmes have been created so that Indian researchers and innovators have the ecosystem to translate ideas into breakthrough solutions.“This very conference is a testimony to our collective resolve, to make India’s laboratories into launchpads, and our startups into global champions,” Naik said.

The Minister emphasised that research cannot remain confined to academic silos and must move seamlessly to pilots, prototypes, and commercial deployment to achieve scale and make hydrogen cost-competitive and accessible.

Congratulating young researchers and startups who presented their pioneering work, Naik said their energy, imagination and passion embody the spirit of Amrit Kaal and the vision of a developed India by 2047.

He noted that the launch of the call for proposals for hydrogen startups during the conference is yet another step to empower them, reduce barriers, and fast-track innovation. “For our youth, I have a simple message: think beyond incremental change. Aspire to design disruptive solutions that can shape the world’s energy future,” he said, urging institutions to nurture interdisciplinary hubs where academia, industry and entrepreneurship converge.

 Naik said this mission is about more than clean energy, it is about economic growth, industrial competitiveness, and environmental responsibility. Green hydrogen will power the steel, cement, fertilizer, mobility, and shipping sectors, help reduce import dependence, create high-value jobs, and establish India as a key exporter in the emerging global hydrogen economy. “At a time when countries are designing cross-border carbon regulations, India’s leadership in green hydrogen will ensure that our industries remain competitive and future-ready,” he added.