Union Minister of New and Renewable Energy, Shri Pralhad Joshi, inaugurated the 1st Annual Green Hydrogen R&D Conference in New Delhi, organised by the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE). He also launched a new Rs 1 billion Call for Proposals to support start-ups innovating in hydrogen technologies. The scheme will provide up to Rs 50 million per project for pilot projects in hydrogen production, storage, transport, and utilisation. The conference features 25 start-ups showcasing innovations from electrolyser manufacturing to AI-driven optimisation and biological hydrogen solutions.Addressing researchers, industry leaders, policymakers, and start-ups, Shri Joshi emphasised that the conference aims to turn research into practical solutions that power industries, clean cities, and create millions of jobs across India. He highlighted Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi’s vision, under the National Green Hydrogen Mission (NGHM) launched in 2023, to make India a global hub for green hydrogen. The Mission has an outlay of Rs 197.44 billion and rests on four pillars: Policy and Regulatory Framework, Demand Creation, R&D and Innovation, and Enabling Infrastructure.Shri Joshi noted that the dedicated R&D scheme under NGHM has already awarded 23 projects covering hydrogen production from biomass, non-biomass routes, safety, integration, and applications. Leading IITs, IISERs, CSIR labs, and industry partners are implementing these projects. The second round of R&D proposals, launched on 14 July 2025, remains open until 15 September 2025. International collaboration is also expanding under the EU-India Trade and Technology Council, with over 30 joint proposals for hydrogen-from-waste projects.The minister highlighted practical progress, including India’s first port-based Green Hydrogen Pilot Project at V.O. Chidambaranar Port, five hydrogen-based steel decarbonisation projects, retrofitted vessels and refuelling infrastructure at Tuticorin Port, operational hydrogen buses, and the nation’s first green ammonia auction at Paradeep Phosphates in Odisha, achieving a historic low price of Rs 0.50 billion per kg versus Rs 1 billion per kg in 2024.He outlined enabling measures, such as the Green Hydrogen Standard and Certification Scheme aligned with 140 international standards, five new testing facilities, certification of over 5,600 trainees, transmission charge exemptions, streamlined clearances, and dedicated hydrogen hubs at Kandla, Paradeep, and Tuticorin Ports. Large enterprises like NTPC, Reliance, and IOCL, alongside start-ups and MSMEs, are investing heavily, creating a robust value chain and millions of jobs.Reiterating India’s targets, Shri Joshi stated that NGHM aims for five million metric tonnes of green hydrogen production annually by 2030, 125 GW of new renewable capacity, Rs 8 trillion in investments, six million new jobs, and annual CO₂ reductions of 50 million tonnes.The conference also featured remarks from Principal Scientific Adviser Prof. Ajay Kumar Sood, MNRE Secretary Shri Santosh Kumar Sarangi, and NGHM Mission Director Dr. Abhay Bhakre, emphasising the importance of R&D in driving innovation and India’s emergence as a global green hydrogen leader.The two-day event, held on 11–12 September 2025, includes expert sessions, interactive roundtables, and a Start-up Expo showcasing 25 pioneering companies spearheading India’s green energy transition.