Mr Bhupinder Singh Bhalla, Former Secretary, Ministry of New & Renewable Energy, Govt. of India today while addressing the ‘FICCI India Energy Summit’ stated that India’s energy transition is now entering a definitive mode and moving from execution to integration, having moved from intent to execution. He added that the focus must be on aligning policy frameworks, strengthening coordination between central and state governments, along with deepening international partnerships to accelerate technology deployment and investment flows. “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 added.
Mr Bhalla further stated that green hydrogen will be a cornerstone of decarbonization, particularly for hard-to-abate sectors where direct electrification is not feasible. “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.
Mr Bhalla stated that India’s decarbonisation journey cannot rely on renewables alone and that expanding clean electricity is essential, it addresses only a fraction of total energy consumption. The real challenge lies in transforming hard-to-abate sectors such as steel, cement, chemicals, transport, and MSMEs. “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.
Mr Bhalla highlighted that well-designed carbon market can become the backbone of India’s transition strategy. Carbon markets help bridge the massive financing gap required for net-zero by mobilizing private investment at scale. “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.
Mr Abhay Bakre, Mission Director, National Green Hydrogen Mission, Ministry of New & Renewable Energy, Govt of India said, “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.
He also highlighted that source of renewable energy that any sector consumes should be optimal depending on its requirement, economic feasibility, infrastructure available and national priorities.
Mr Narendra Bhooshan, Additional Chief Secretary, UPNEDA, Govt of Uttar Pradesh said that that energy transition will not accelerate unless states move faster in implementing the policies announced by the central government and Uttar Pradesh is committed to turning ambition into large-scale, practical implementation.
While inviting the industry to invest in the state Mr Bhooshan 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.”
Mr 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.”
Mr Suresh Manglani, Co-Chair, FICCI Hydrocarbons Committee, and CEO, Adani Total Gas Ltd, said, “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.”
Mr Vijay Kumar Srivastava, COO & Whole Time Director, Jubilant Ingrevia Ltd-Chair, as a G20 nation, India is not just participating in the global climate conversation, we are helping shape it.
Dr Pankaj Satija, Co-Chair, FICCI Mining Committee and Executive Vice President, JSW Group said that the energy transition is inevitable and must be time-bound. It will require coexistence between conventional and renewable sources; and real progress depends on advancing electrification, energy efficiency, and renewable expansion together, he added.
