NITI Aayog Releases Reports On Viksit Bharat And Net Zero

13 Feb 2026 CW Team

The studies find that electrification, circularity and energy efficiency could lower final energy demand by 20 per cent by 2070 while coal consumption is likely to rise until 2047 even under Net Zero pathways. Electricity’s share of final energy could increase from 21 per cent in 2025 to as high as 60 per cent in 2070, and non?fossil generation could rise from 23 per cent to between 80 and 85 per cent. Urbanisation, cooling needs, digitalisation and electric mobility are identified as key drivers of higher electricity demand.

In transport, electricity, biofuels and hydrogen could meet nearly 90 per cent of energy demand by 2070, aided by modal shifts towards public and shared mobility and greater use of rail and waterways. In industry, demand for steel, cement and aluminium is expected to rise by four to six times by 2070, with electrification, material efficiency, recycling and green hydrogen forming the basis of industrial energy. The assessments stress technology adoption and structural change to manage growth while limiting emissions.

The critical mineral analysis indicates recycling could supply 20 to 25 per cent of copper and graphite demand by mid?century, helping to reduce import dependence. A panel discussion emphasised renewables and storage as the least cost pathway and said detailed policy interventions and implementation will be required to realise the scenarios. Officials noted roadmaps including a 500 gigawatt (GW) renewables target and stressed the need to keep distribution companies financially healthy while pursuing long term low carbon objectives.

NITI Aayog released 11 study reports on scenarios towards Viksit Bharat and Net Zero across two days on nine and 10 February 2026, with a second set of four reports unveiled on the morning of 10 February at the Ambedkar International Centre in New Delhi. The launch was attended by senior NITI Aayog and ministry officials including the member and the chief executive officer of NITI Aayog and secretaries from the ministries of power and new and renewable energy. The four reports cover sectoral insights for transport, industry, power and a critical mineral assessment. The studies find that electrification, circularity and energy efficiency could lower final energy demand by 20 per cent by 2070 while coal consumption is likely to rise until 2047 even under Net Zero pathways. Electricity’s share of final energy could increase from 21 per cent in 2025 to as high as 60 per cent in 2070, and non?fossil generation could rise from 23 per cent to between 80 and 85 per cent. Urbanisation, cooling needs, digitalisation and electric mobility are identified as key drivers of higher electricity demand. In transport, electricity, biofuels and hydrogen could meet nearly 90 per cent of energy demand by 2070, aided by modal shifts towards public and shared mobility and greater use of rail and waterways. In industry, demand for steel, cement and aluminium is expected to rise by four to six times by 2070, with electrification, material efficiency, recycling and green hydrogen forming the basis of industrial energy. The assessments stress technology adoption and structural change to manage growth while limiting emissions. The critical mineral analysis indicates recycling could supply 20 to 25 per cent of copper and graphite demand by mid?century, helping to reduce import dependence. A panel discussion emphasised renewables and storage as the least cost pathway and said detailed policy interventions and implementation will be required to realise the scenarios. Officials noted roadmaps including a 500 gigawatt (GW) renewables target and stressed the need to keep distribution companies financially healthy while pursuing long term low carbon objectives.

Infrastructure Urban

30 Jul 2026

Centre Clears Power Distribution Upgrade for Uttar Pradesh

The Central Government has approved power distribution projects worth Rs 407.39 billion for Uttar Pradesh under the Revamped Distribution Sector Scheme (RDSS). The investment will be used to modernise the state's electricity distribution infrastructure and strengthen network capacity across urban and rural areas. The package targets one of the country's largest distribution networks as the state experiences rapid urbanisation and rising electricity consumption. Planned interventions include the strengthening of distribution lines, modernisation of substations, replacement of ageing electrical ..

Infrastructure Energy

30 Jul 2026

India Data Centres To Consume 191 TWh By 2040 Driving Renewables

A Wood Mackenzie report says India's operational data centre capacity is projected to increase more than fivefold to 12 gigawatt (GW) by 2030 from 2.2 GW in 2025 as artificial intelligence (AI) and cloud computing drive demand. It projects electricity consumption to rise from 10 terawatt-hour (TWh) in 2025 to 191 TWh by 2040. The study forecasts a compound annual growth rate of around 40 per cent and notes AI-dedicated capacity will surge nearly 24-fold from 275 megawatt (MW) in 2025 to 6,546 MW by 2030. The report places India's digital economy at Rs 32 trillion (tn) in 2025 and says it contr..

Infrastructure Transport

30 Jul 2026

Hydrogen Train Completes 1,200 Kilometres Of Trials

India's first hydrogen train was flagged off between Jind and Sonipat on July 17 and has travelled over 1,200 kilometres in trials, saving diesel consumption of more than 3,200 litres, a Railway Ministry press release said. The deployment marks the introduction of a zero-emission fuel cell train into route testing and represents a milestone in domestic rail innovation. The train generates electricity onboard through a chemical reaction between hydrogen and oxygen, producing electricity to propel the vehicle while emitting only water vapour as a by-product. There is no smoke and no tailpipe car..