India Energy Week (IEW) 2026 | 31 Jan 2026

Why in News?

India concluded India Energy Week (IEW) 2026 in Goa, highlighted India’s strong preparedness to tackle global energy volatility. The event underscored India’s twin strategy of securing conventional energy supplies while accelerating clean energy transitions to remain a key global energy player.

What are the Key Highlights of India Energy Week 2026?

Paradigm Shift to "Energy Addition": India emphasised that the global energy transition is fundamentally about "energy addition" rather than just replacement, necessitating sustained investment in oil, gas, biofuels, Green Hydrogen, and liquefied natural gas (LNG).
- India highlighted its reforms-driven approach, specifically the opening of large sedimentary basins through the Open Acreage Licensing Policy (OALP) and Discovered Small Fields (DSF) bidding rounds to attract global investment.
- Despite global turmoil, price shocks have not been passed on to the Indian consumer. Through timely interventions by Oil Marketing Companies (OMCs), India has maintained some of the lowest energy prices globally for fuel and LPG.
India-UAE Energy Partnership: During the IEW, 2026 UAE reinforced its role as a reliable supplier of crude and LPG to India, warning that underinvestment is the greatest risk to the global energy system.
- The UAE is India's fourth-largest source of India's oil imports, behind Russia, Iraq, and Saudi Arabia.
- UAE is also India's 3rd largest trading partner and 2nd largest export destination, with exports exceeding USD 36.63 billion in FY 2024-25. Both countries aim to double bilateral trade from USD 100.06 billion in FY25 to USD 200 billion by 2032.
Drivers of Global Demand: The conclave noted that future global energy demand will be driven by emerging markets, digitalisation, and the integration of diverse energy systems, with India at the centre of these megatrends.
Goa’s Renewable Vision: As the host state, Goa unveiled its roadmap to achieve 100% renewable energy by 2050, stressing the need to balance the Green Economy with the Blue Economy (sustainable use of ocean resources).

India Energy Week (IEW)

First launched in 2023, India Energy Week (IEW) is India’s flagship global energy platform, held under the patronage of the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas (MoP&NG), bringing together governments, industry leaders, and innovators to promote a secure, sustainable, and affordable energy future.
- IEM serves as a neutral international forum for policy dialogue, investment facilitation, and technological collaboration.

Energy Security in India

As per IRENA Renewable Energy Statistics 2025, India ranks 3rd globally in solar power capacity, 4^th in wind power, and 4th in total renewable energy capacity, reflecting rapid clean energy expansion.
Despite being the 3rd largest net energy importer, India has achieved 50% of its cumulative installed electricity capacity from non-fossil fuel sources, five years ahead of its 2030 target.
However, the country slipped to 71^st out of 118 countries in the World Economic Forum’s Energy Transition Index 2025, down from 63rd in 2024.
Energy Security Initiatives: India’s renewable energy transition is driven by initiatives such as PM Surya Ghar Muft Bijli Yojana and PM-KUSUM for decentralised solar adoption, the National Policy on Biofuels, 2018 (achieved 20% ethanol blending in petrol in 2025 under the Ethanol Blending Programme (EBP)), and the National Green Hydrogen Mission.
- These efforts are reinforced by solar diplomacy via the International Solar Alliance, the One Sun One World One Grid (OSOWOG), expansion under the Solar Parks Scheme, a major nuclear capacity push through the Nuclear Energy Mission, and global partnerships such as the Global Biofuel Alliance.
Upstream Reforms:
- Oilfield (Regulation and Development) Amendment Act, 2025 to simplify regulations and boost domestic oil & gas production.
- Petroleum and Natural Gas Rules, 2025 for regulatory certainty and ease of doing business.
- Hydrocarbon Exploration Licensing Policy (HELP) and Open Acreage Licensing Policy (OALP) are aimed at boosting domestic oil and gas exploration and production.
- Downstream Reforms: Unified Pipeline Tariff (UPT) under One Nation, One Gas Grid to reduce regional gas price disparities.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. What is India Energy Week (IEW)?
IEW is India’s flagship global energy platform for dialogue on energy security, sustainability, investment, and technology collaboration.

2. What does “energy addition” mean in India’s energy strategy?
It emphasises expanding total energy supply by investing in both conventional fuels and clean energy, rather than replacing one with another.

3. How has India protected consumers from global energy price shocks?
Through timely interventions by Oil Marketing Companies, India has maintained low fuel and LPG prices despite global volatility.

4. What are India’s major achievements in renewable energy?
India ranks 3rd in solar, 4th in wind and total renewable capacity, and has achieved 50% non-fossil electricity capacity ahead of its 2030 target.

5. Why is India’s ranking in the Energy Transition Index a concern?
Despite capacity growth, challenges remain in affordability, grid integration, storage, and overall transition efficiency, reflected in its lower global ranking.

UPSC Civil Services Examination, Previous Year Question (PYQ)

Prelims:

Q. With reference to the Indian Renewable Energy Development Agency Limited (IREDA), which of the following statements is/are correct? (2015)

It is a Public Limited Government Company.
It is a Non-Banking Financial Company.

Select the correct answer using the code given below:

(a) 1 only

(b) 2 only

(d) Neither 1 nor 2

Ans: (c)

Mains:

Q. “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. (2018)