Current Affairs for 06 November 2025

Renewable Energy in India :Targets, Current Status, Key Policies, Challenges & Way Forward

• Renewable Energy (RE) refers to energy derived from natural resources that replenish themselves faster than they are consumed.
• Examples: Solar energy, wind energy, hydropower, biomass energy, geothermal energy, ocean energy, etc.
• These sources are environment-friendly, sustainable, and carbon-neutral compared to fossil fuels such as coal, oil, and natural gas.

India’s Renewable Energy Targets

Under its Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) as per the Paris Agreement, India has set the following key targets:

1. To achieve 50% of total installed electric capacity from non-fossil fuel sources by 2030.
2. To install 500 GW of non-fossil-based energy capacity by 2030 — known as the “Panchamrit” target.
3. To achieve Net Zero emissions by 2070.

Current Status of Renewable Energy in India (as of June 2025)

• India ranks:
  • 4th globally in total renewable energy capacity,
  • 3rd in solar energy capacity, and
  • 4th in wind energy capacity.

Major Policies and Initiatives

1. Jawaharlal Nehru National Solar Mission (JNNSM, 2010): Promotes large-scale solar power generation and manufacturing.
2. National Wind-Solar Hybrid Policy (2018): Encourages combined use of wind and solar resources for optimal utilization.
3. Green Energy Corridor Project: Strengthens transmission infrastructure to integrate renewable energy into the national grid.
4. PM-KUSUM Scheme: Promotes solar energy use in the agriculture sector (solar pumps, grid-connected plants, etc.).
5. National Green Hydrogen Mission (2023): Aims to produce 5 MMT of green hydrogen by 2030.
6. Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) Policy 2024: Framework to enhance energy storage capacity and grid stability.

Key Challenges

1. Intermittency and Supply Instability
   • Solar and wind generation depend on weather conditions.
   • Lack of storage infrastructure affects grid reliability.
2. Dependence on Critical Minerals
   • Solar panels, turbines, and batteries rely on rare earth elements such as lithium, cobalt, nickel, and graphite — concentrated in countries like China.
3. Land and Environmental Pressures
   • Solar parks require vast land (approx. 4–5 acres per MW).
   • Competes with agricultural land and may disturb ecological balance.
4. Lifecycle Cost and Waste Management
   • Manufacturing solar panels and batteries consumes significant water and emits carbon.
   • Solar and electronic waste management infrastructure is still weak.
5. Financial and Policy Coordination Issues
   • Poor financial health of DISCOMs (distribution companies).
   • Lack of uniform state-level policies and slow approval processes.

Way Forward

1. Round-the-Clock (RTC) Renewable Power Supply
   • Combine solar, wind, and storage systems to ensure 24×7 power availability.
2. Investment in Energy Storage Systems
   • Promote Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS) and Pumped Hydro Storage for balancing supply-demand gaps.
3. Securing Mineral Supply Chains
   • Strengthen partnerships like the Mineral Security Partnership (MSP).
   • Enhance domestic mining and recycling capacity for key minerals.
4. Research, Development & Innovation (R&D)
   • Focus on next-generation solar cells, green hydrogen, smart grids, and microgrids.
5. Centre-State Coordination & Policy Reform
   • Simplify land acquisition, grid connectivity, and approval processes.
6. Private Investment & Global Cooperation
   • Strengthen international initiatives such as “One Sun, One World, One Grid (OSOWOG)” to expand global renewable collaboration.

Conclusion

• India has made remarkable progress in renewable energy, with over 226 GW of installed capacity. 
• Emerging initiatives in green hydrogen and energy storage are shaping the future of sustainable energy security.
• However, challenges like intermittency, mineral dependency, and financial constraints persist.
• With policy coherence, technological innovation, and strong global partnerships, India is well-positioned to achieve its 2030 renewable energy goals and emerge as a model for sustainable and inclusive energy transition.

Nuclear Energy Mission: A Historic Step Towards India’s Energy Self-Reliance

In the Union Budget 2025–26, the Government of India announced an ambitious “Nuclear Energy Mission” with the goal of achieving 100 GW of nuclear power capacity by 2047. This mission forms a vital part of India’s long-term energy transition strategy and the “Viksit Bharat @2047” vision, aimed at ensuring sustainable, secure, and self-reliant energy growth.

Current Status and Targets

Key Features of the Mission

1. Small Modular Reactor (SMR) Initiative
   • SMRs are next-generation reactors (≤300 MW) designed for safety, flexibility, and rapid deployment.
   • BARC aims to operationalize at least five SMRs by 2033.
2. Bharat Small Reactors (BSRs)
   • 220 MW Compact Pressurized Heavy Water Reactors (PHWR) based entirely on indigenous design.
   • Intended for captive use, such as industrial hubs or repurposing retired coal plants.
3. Private Sector Participation
   • Amendments to the Atomic Energy Act (1962) and Civil Liability for Nuclear Damage Act (2010) aim to attract private investment.
   • Public–Private Partnership (PPP) models are being introduced for research, financing, and execution.
4. Indigenous Technology and Research
   • India aspires to be a global leader in thorium-based fuel cycles.
   • Ongoing work on Advanced Heavy Water Reactors (AHWRs) and Fast Breeder Reactors (FBRs) by BARC and NPCIL.

Significance of Nuclear Energy for India

1. Reliable and Continuous Power Supply
   • Unlike solar and wind, nuclear power provides 24×7 base-load energy with minimal fluctuation.
2. Low Land Requirement
   • As per Economic Survey 2023, solar plants require ~300 times more land than nuclear plants for equivalent power generation.
3. Low Carbon Emissions and Waste Generation
   • Near-zero greenhouse gas emissions and limited solid waste make nuclear energy environmentally sustainable.
4. Leveraging Thorium Reserves
   • India holds about 25% of the world’s thorium reserves, key to long-term energy security.
5. Energy Self-Reliance and Net-Zero Goals
   • Indigenous nuclear reactors and fuel cycle technologies will reduce dependence on fossil fuels and imports.

Major Challenges

1. Public Safety and Social Acceptance
   • Accidents such as Chernobyl and Fukushima have raised public apprehensions; strong safety communication is essential.
2. Uranium and Mineral Dependence
   • India has limited domestic uranium reserves, leading to import dependency.
   • Sulphuric acid shortage hampers uranium extraction efficiency.
3. Technological Monopoly
   • Advanced reactor technologies are dominated by the U.S., Russia, Japan, and France.
4. Financial and Regulatory Hurdles
   • Nuclear plants are capital-intensive with long gestation periods.
   • Complex licensing and environmental clearance procedures delay projects.
5. Fuel Supply Chain Constraints
   • International control under the Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG) poses uncertainty in fuel supply.

Way Forward

1. Simplifying Regulatory Framework
   • Develop standardized licensing, safety, and waste management norms for SMRs.
2. Green Finance and Taxonomy Inclusion
   • Classify nuclear power under green taxonomy to enable low-cost financing and global investment.
3. International Cooperation and Technology Transfer
   • Strengthen collaboration with the IAEA and countries like France, Russia, the USA, and Japan for joint R&D and safety standards.
4. Accelerate Thorium-Based Third Stage
   • Prioritize projects like AHWRs and Fast Breeder Reactors to utilize India’s thorium potential.
5. Public Engagement and Transparency
   • Encourage community consultation, safety training, and benefit-sharing models to build trust and social acceptance.

Conclusion

• India possesses world-class scientific institutions, vast thorium reserves, and a strong policy vision for sustainable energy transformation.
• The Nuclear Energy Mission integrates these strengths to advance India toward energy self-reliance and net-zero emissions.
• If implemented with balanced reforms in regulation, financing, and indigenous innovation, India can not only achieve 100 GW nuclear capacity by 2047, but also emerge as a global leader in safe, clean, and sustainable nuclear energy production.

Great Nicobar Island — Strategic, Ecological and Developmental Significance

• The Great Nicobar Island is India’s southernmost and largest island, forming an integral part of the Andaman & Nicobar Islands.
• It holds immense strategic and ecological importance for India’s maritime boundaries.
• Recently, the proposed Great Nicobar Island Development Project (GNI Project) has triggered widespread debate concerning environmental sustainability, national security, and tribal rights.

Geographical Overview

Geographical and Ecological Features

• Declared a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve in 2013.
• Covered with dense tropical rainforests, rich in biodiversity.
• Major species found:
  • Nicobar Megapode (Nicobari pigeon)
  • Saltwater crocodiles and Dugongs (Sea Cow)
  • Loggerhead and Green turtles
• The Great Nicobar Biosphere Reserve is divided into:
  • Core Zone: 885 sq. km
  • Buffer Zone: 705 sq. km

Population and Tribal Composition

• Both tribes are classified as Scheduled Tribes and protected under the Andaman & Nicobar (Protection of Aboriginal Tribes) Regulation, 1956.

Strategic Importance

1. Geographical Advantage:
   • Located ~160 km from the Strait of Malacca, one of the world’s busiest trade routes.
   • Around 40% of global oil trade passes through this region.
2. Naval and Surveillance Base:
   • INS Baaz, established in 2012, is India’s southernmost naval air station.
   • Enhances India’s Indo-Pacific maritime surveillance capabilities.
   • Serves as a countermeasure to China’s “String of Pearls” strategy.
3. Blue Economy & Maritime Security:
   • Integral to India’s Act East Policy and Sagarmala Vision.
   • Potential to strengthen India’s presence in ASEAN and Indo-Pacific partnerships.

Great Nicobar Island Development Project (GNI Project)

• Proposed by: NITI Aayog, aligned with Vision 2036
  
• Estimated Cost: ₹72,000 crore

Major Components:

1. International Container Transshipment Terminal (ICTT):
   • Capacity: 14.2 million TEU
2. Greenfield Airport:
   • Dual-use (civil and defense)
3. Power Plant & Smart City:
   • Spread over ~130 sq. km
4. Eco-tourism & Deep-Sea Port Hub

Objectives:

• To transform India into a global maritime trade hub.
• To reduce dependence on transshipment hubs like Singapore and Colombo.

Environmental and Social Concerns

Environmental Impact

• Possible destruction of ~130 sq. km of forest area.
• Threat to seasonal water balance and coastal ecology.
• Likely damage to turtle nesting grounds and marine ecosystems.
• Located in Seismic Zone V, prone to earthquakes and tsunamis.

Tribal Impact

• Threat to the survival and livelihood of Shompen and Nicobarese tribes.
• Influx of outsiders may lead to cultural erosion, disease spread, and displacement.

Legal Challenges

• In 2023, the National Green Tribunal (NGT) granted conditional clearance, mandating Compensatory Afforestation and a Biodiversity Impact Assessment.
• Environmentalists argue the project could trigger an ecological disaster rather than an economic boon.

Government’s Stand

• The project adheres to the principles of Sustainable Development.
• No-Go Zones to be established in tribal and ecologically sensitive areas.
• Promises of employment generation, infrastructure improvement, and national security enhancement.
• Use of Green Technology and Renewable Energy sources.

Analytical Overview

Conclusion

The Great Nicobar Island is a region of immense strategic value, ecological sensitivity, and unique cultural heritage. India must strike a fine balance between development, ecology, and indigenous protection. Sustainable development here must mean growth with responsibility — safeguarding nature, culture, and national security alike.

“Great Nicobar is not just an island — it is a test of India’s maritime self-reliance and ecological wisdom.”

Indian Himalayan Region (IHR): A New Dimension of Climate Justice and Sustainable Development

The Indian Himalayan Region (IHR) is not only the ecological backbone of India but also the lifeline of Asia. Stretching from the high altitudes of the Himalayas to the hilly terrains of the northeastern states, this region sustains millions of lives, cultures, and water resources. However, climate change, unplanned development, tourism pressure, and ecological imbalance have emerged as serious threats.

In recent times, some landmark Supreme Court judgments have introduced new hope in this direction. The Court has declared that freedom from the adverse effects of climate change is a fundamental right, protected under Article 14 (Right to Equality) and Article 21 (Right to Life) of the Constitution.

Major Supreme Court Judgments

1. M.K. Ranjit Singh vs Union of India (2024) : The Supreme Court recognized the right to live free from the adverse effects of climate change as a fundamental right under Articles 14 and 21.
2. Ashok Kumar Raghav vs Union of India (2023) : The Court directed the Centre and the petitioner to suggest measures for sustainable development based on the carrying capacity of Himalayan towns and states.
3. State of Telangana vs Mohammad Abdul Kasim (2023) : The Court emphasized the need for an ecocentric approach in environmental matters, where nature remains at the center of all decisions.

Significance of the Indian Himalayan Region

• Water Tower of the Earth: The glaciers of the Himalayas feed Asia’s major rivers — Ganga, Brahmaputra, Indus, etc. — sustaining around 1.4 billion people.
• Climate Regulator: The Himalayas act as a climatic barrier, blocking icy winds from the Arctic and influencing the direction and intensity of the monsoon.
• Biodiversity Hotspot: Two of India’s four biodiversity hotspots — the Himalayas and Indo-Burma — are located here.
• Natural Resource Hub: Rich in morel mushrooms (Gucchi), medicinal plants, wildlife, forests, and freshwater resources.
• Carbon Sink: Himalayan forests store approximately 5.4 billion tons of carbon, contributing significantly to India’s carbon neutrality goals.

Major Challenges

1. Deforestation and Habitat Loss: Between 2019–2021, Himalayan states lost around 1,072 sq km of forest cover.

2. Rapid Glacier Retreat:

•  The Gangotri glacier has retreated nearly 1,700 meters between 1935–2022.
• The formation of glacial lakes has increased the risk of Glacial Lake Outburst Floods (GLOFs).

3. Tourism Pressure: Around 100 million tourists visit IHR annually; projected to reach 240 million by 2025. Towns like Joshimath, Shimla, and Mussoorie are already exceeding their carrying capacity.

4. Unsustainable Infrastructure Growth: Unscientific construction on fragile slopes, reckless road widening, and tunnel projects have intensified landslides, water scarcity, and subsidence.

Way Forward

1. Creation of a ‘Himalayan Authority’: A constitutional body for ecological coordination, policy planning, and monitoring across all Himalayan states.
2. Smart Mountain Tourism: Implement eco-certification-based tourism policies and introduce a Green Cess to promote environmental taxation.
3. Revival of Local Springs: Expand models like Sikkim’s Dhara Vikas Yojana to rejuvenate natural springs throughout the Himalayas.
4. Distinct Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA): Formulate separate EIA standards for the Himalayas, considering geological sensitivity and fragile ecosystems.
5. Community Participation and Capacity Building: Empower local mountain communities as active partners in conservation and sustainable livelihoods.

Conservation Initiatives

National Initiatives:

• National Mission on Sustaining the Himalayan Ecosystem (NMSHE)
• Centre for Cryosphere and Climate Change Studies
• Swadesh Darshan Scheme: Promoting eco-tourism and waste management.

Global Initiatives:

• International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD)
• SECURE Himalaya Project: Funded by the Global Environment Facility (GEF) for wildlife conservation and combating illegal trade.

Conclusion

The Indian Himalayan Region is the ecological soul of India. Land-use changes, illegal mining, forest fires, wildlife trafficking, and climate change are critically destabilizing this region’s balance. Judicial interventions have now reinforced that climate justice and environmental rights are permanent fixtures within India’s constitutional framework.

Hence, it is imperative to:

• Maintain balance between development and conservation,
• Formulate a dedicated Himalayan policy framework, and
• Transform sustainable development from a slogan into a practice.

“Protecting the Himalayas is protecting India.” The preservation of the Himalayas is not just an environmental issue — it is a question of the very survival of future generations.