Mains Practice Questions

Introduction

The Energy Statistics India 2025 highlights India’s growing energy demand and its transition towards a diversified energy mix. Energy security, defined by reliable availability, equitable access, economic affordability, and low environmental impact, is critical for India’s growth. With a 7.8% rise in Total Primary Energy Supply (TPES) and rapid expansion of renewables, India is strategically enhancing its energy resilience.

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Ensuring Energy Availability:

• Diversification reduces overdependence on fossil fuel imports, mitigating geopolitical risks (e.g., oil price fluctuations due to global conflicts).
• Renewable capacity grew from 81,593 MW (2015) to 1,98,213 MW (2024), with solar and wind as key contributors.
• Expansion in LNG, coal gasification, and nuclear energy strengthens the base-load supply.
• Seasonal variability of renewables, lack of sufficient energy storage, and slow transmission infrastructure upgrades pose risks to energy reliability.

Enhancing Accessibility:

• Green Energy Corridor, Saubhagya Yojana, and DDUGJY have improved rural and inter-state electricity access.
• Off-grid solar solutions and microgrids support energy penetration in remote areas.
• State DISCOM financial distress, power theft, and high transmission losses (still at 17%) limit last-mile energy delivery.
• Regional disparities persist, with some states lagging in grid expansion and renewable integration.

Improving Affordability:

• Solar power costs in India are among the lowest globally, driven by economies of scale and government incentives.
• PLIs, KUSUM, and UJALA schemes support energy affordability for low-income households.
• Rising lithium and battery storage costs threaten future affordability of renewables.
• Cross-subsidization in power tariffs, while protecting vulnerable consumers, burdens industries and commercial users, affecting competitiveness.
• Frequent DISCOM bailouts strain public finances, making sustainable pricing reforms difficult.

Advancing Environmental Sustainability:

• Renewable generation rose from 2,05,608 GWh (2014-15) to 3,70,320 GWh (2023-24), lowering carbon intensity.
• Green Hydrogen Mission, Bio-Energy Mission, and FAME promote cleaner energy in industry and transport.
• 57% energy dependency on coal remains a challenge, increasing air pollution and carbon emissions.
• Slow progress in EV adoption and hydrogen infrastructure limits clean energy transition in mobility.
• Environmental concerns around large hydro projects (e.g., displacement, deforestation) complicate expansion.

Key Challenges and Gaps:

• Renewable intermittency due to lack of large-scale storage solutions affects energy reliability.
• Slow adoption of smart grids and digital infrastructure weakens transmission efficiency.
• Delayed coal plant retirements and rising investments in fossil fuel projects risk long-term carbon lock-in.
• High capital costs for green hydrogen, battery storage, and offshore wind hinder large-scale deployment.
• India’s critical mineral dependency (e.g., lithium, cobalt for battery storage) increases external vulnerabilities.
• Regulatory hurdles and land acquisition issues slow down clean energy projects.

Conclusion

India’s diversified energy strategy has improved availability, access, affordability, and sustainability. To achieve full energy security, focus must now shift to storage, grid reform, and inclusive clean energy transitions. A just transition framework is crucial to balance equity and sustainability, ensuring no community is left behind in the energy shift.