Examine India’s energy security strategy in the context of import dependence, the National Green Hydrogen Mission and citizen behavioural change.
Subtopic: Economy · Infrastructure (energy)
How to structure your answer
Introduction: India imports 87.7% of crude oil and ~50% of natural gas (PPAC Apr 2025); Cabinet approved National Green Hydrogen Mission (Jan 2023) with ₹19,744 crore outlay; PM Surya Ghar Muft Bijli Yojana (Feb 2024) targets 1 crore rooftops.
Body: 1) Demand-side — Mission LiFE (Lifestyle for Environment, UNFCCC COP26), Star Rating, Perform-Achieve-Trade. 2) Supply-side — Green Hydrogen, SIGHT incentives, 500 GW non-fossil by 2030. 3) Risks — Strait of Hormuz exposure, Russia discounts ending, REC market depth.
Way forward: Mandatory Energy Audit under BEE Section 14(i); expand Strategic Petroleum Reserve Phase-II (6.5 MMT); fast-track CBG and bioethanol blending (20% E20 target advanced to 2025-26).
Written within the word limit
209 words · target 250 words · 14 min
Introduction:
India's primary-energy import dependence stood at 87% for crude oil, 52% for gas and 25% for coal in 2024-25 (PPAC, Ministry of Coal). Energy security — uninterrupted, affordable and sustainable supply — is the central economic-security challenge as India consumes 6% of global energy with 18% of the world's population.
Strategic responses: Strategic Petroleum Reserves of 5.33 MMT at Visakhapatnam, Mangalore and Padur cover 9.5 days of imports; SPR Phase-II at Chandikhol and Padur-II will add 6.5 MMT. ONGC Videsh operates 36 projects in 17 countries; Russian crude is 35% of imports (PPAC March 2026); LNG long-term contracts run with Qatar (RasGas) and US Cheniere. PM JI-VAN Yojana and SATAT drive bio-fuel; Ethanol Blended Petrol crossed 18% (20% target by FY26).
National Green Hydrogen Mission: Approved January 2023 with ₹19,744 crore, the Mission targets 5 MMT/year green hydrogen by 2030, 125 GW associated RE capacity and $100 bn investment. SIGHT-1 allocated 4,12,000-tonne electrolyser capacity; SECI auctioned 5,000 MW under VGF. Green H2 will decarbonise refineries (4.8 MMT captive demand), fertilisers (NH3, 19 MMT/year) and steel (NTPC-SAIL pilot at Vijayawada).
Citizen behavioural change: Mission LiFE (COP-27, November 2022) anchors 75 demand-side actions; BEE Star-Labelling saves 60 BU/year; UJALA distributed 36.86 crore LEDs across India.
Way forward:
MNRE should operationalise 1 MMT Green H2 by FY28, scale SPR Phase-II by 2027, mandate 20% EBP nationwide by 2026, and converge Mission LiFE with PM Surya Ghar Muft Bijli Yojana (1 crore households).
What an examiner expects to see
- Crude import dependence 87.7% (PPAC Apr 2025)
- Natural gas import ~50%
- National Green Hydrogen Mission ₹19,744 crore (Jan 2023)
- PM Surya Ghar — 1 crore rooftops
- Mission LiFE launched COP26
- E20 ethanol blending advanced to 2025-26
- Strategic Petroleum Reserve Phase-II 6.5 MMT
Concrete cases, schemes and judgments
- SIGHT incentives for electrolyser
- Compressed Bio-Gas under SATAT
- Rosneft-Reliance crude deal
- International Solar Alliance