“Access to affordable, reliable, sustainable and modern energy is the sine qua non to achieve Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).” Comment on the progress made in India in this regard.
Subtopic: Indian Economy · energy access & SDGs
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Sustainable Development Goal 7 seeks affordable, reliable, sustainable and modern energy for all. Energy is a cross-cutting enabler: it powers health (SDG-3), education (SDG-4), water (SDG-6), industry (SDG-9) and poverty reduction (SDG-1), which is why it is rightly called the sine qua non of the 2030 Agenda.
Progress made by India
- Universal electrification: the Saubhagya scheme achieved near-universal household connections, and DDUGJY strengthened rural feeders.
- Clean cooking: PM Ujjwala Yojana released over 10 crore LPG connections, cutting dependence on biomass.
- Renewables: India is among the top producers of solar and wind power, pursuing 500 GW of non-fossil capacity by 2030, aided by the International Solar Alliance and PM-KUSUM.
- Efficiency: UJALA distributed LED bulbs at scale, and Perform-Achieve-Trade improved industrial efficiency.
Remaining challenges
Per-capita consumption stays below the world average, coal still dominates the mix, distribution utilities are financially stressed, and reliability of rural supply is uneven. Sustaining LPG refills and grid quality remains work in progress.
India's task now is a just, affordable transition that converts access into reliable, clean and equitable energy for every household.
What an examiner expects to see
- SDG-7 is an enabler of SDGs on poverty, health, education, water and industry
- Saubhagya delivered near-universal household electrification; DDUGJY strengthened rural distribution
- PM Ujjwala Yojana expanded clean cooking access to over 10 crore poor households
- India targets 500 GW non-fossil capacity by 2030; leads the International Solar Alliance
- UJALA and Perform-Achieve-Trade improved end-use energy efficiency
- Gaps remain: low per-capita consumption, coal dependence, DISCOM losses, uneven reliability
- The goal is an affordable, reliable and just clean-energy transition
Concrete cases, schemes and judgments
- Saubhagya (Pradhan Mantri Sahaj Bijli Har Ghar Yojana) household electrification
- PM Ujjwala Yojana LPG connections; UJALA LED programme
- International Solar Alliance headquartered in India; PM-KUSUM for solar irrigation
- 500 GW non-fossil capacity target by 2030 under the updated NDC