India Emerges as Global Renewable Energy Leader Backed by Strong Policy Ecosystem: Secretary, MNRE

📌 Summary:

• The Ministry of New & Renewable Energy (MNRE) co-organised a panel on "Energy Security through Renewable Energies" under the 10th Green and Sustainable Development Partnership (GSDP) Conversation Series

• MNRE Secretary Santosh Kumar Sarangi said India's renewable energy progress over the past decade has positioned it as a global leader, driven by a robust policy ecosystem

• Policy enablers cited: Renewable Purchase/Consumption Obligations (RPO/RCO), standard competitive bidding guidelines for solar, wind and hybrid power, up to 100% FDI under the automatic route, and domestic manufacturing push via PLI and the Approved List of Models and Manufacturers (ALMM)

• Flagship programmes PM Surya Ghar: Muft Bijli Yojana and PM-KUSUM have brought households and farmers to the forefront; Agri-PV and floating solar to unlock new deployment

• National Green Hydrogen Mission seen as key to cutting fossil-fuel imports, enabling industrial decarbonisation and energy security; grid modernisation, forecasting, circular economy and climate finance flagged as priorities

🎯 UPSC Relevance: GS3 Environment / Economy — clean energy transition, energy security, renewable policy instruments and green hydrogen.

📝 Prelims Facts:

• RPO/RCO = Renewable Purchase/Consumption Obligation; ALMM = Approved List of Models and Manufacturers
• Schemes: PM Surya Ghar: Muft Bijli Yojana (rooftop solar), PM-KUSUM (solar for farmers), National Green Hydrogen Mission
• Up to 100% FDI allowed in renewables under the automatic route

🔑 Key Term: Green Hydrogen — hydrogen produced by electrolysis of water using renewable electricity, used to decarbonise hard-to-abate industries and reduce fossil-fuel imports.