NEW DELHI, 21 May 2026: FICCI organized a Roundtable Book Interaction on ‘India’s Energy Transition and the Road to Net-Zero’ on Tuesday bringing together policymakers, industry leaders, and stakeholders to deliberate on India’s clean energy transition, decarbonization pathways, energy security, and policy interventions required to achieve Net Zero ambitions by 2070. The deliberations centered around the book Rising Ambition - Carving New Pathways: India’s Energy Transition, authored by Mr Ajay Shankar, former Secretary to the Government of India.
Addressing the gathering, Mr Ajay Shankar, Former Secretary to the Government of India stated that while India has made significant progress in renewable energy deployment, the next phase of transition requires pragmatic policy choices, stronger private sector participation, and effective de-risking of investments rather than over-reliance on capital subsidies.
He further highlighted that electrification of the economy, affordable renewable energy, storage solutions, and technology innovation will be central to India’s long-term energy security. Drawing from international experiences, he emphasized that India must focus on reducing transition costs, enabling self-reliance in critical technologies, and fostering stronger collaboration between government and industry to accelerate the growth. He also underscored that storage capacity, concentrated solar thermal technologies, and domestic manufacturing capabilities would significantly influence India’s clean energy trajectory.
Ms Naina Lal Kidwai, Past President, FICCI, highlighted that de-risking India’s transition is not only about business models but also financial innovation. She stressed the importance of expanding the conversation beyond conventional renewable pathways and exploring waste-to-energy, circular economy models, and sustainable resource utilization. She also underlined the need to reduce external dependencies, strengthen domestic resilience, and build smarter financial frameworks that can support large-scale clean energy investments and industrial transformation.
Mr Vipul Tuli, Chair, FICCI RE CEOs Committee and President & CEO – Renewables West, Sembcorp Industries, said that India’s rising power demand and long-term energy security must remain central to the transition strategy. He emphasised that while renewable energy ambitions have expanded significantly, the focus must now shift from capacity announcements to execution, especially strengthening transmission infrastructure, storage, and grid readiness. He added that greater electrification, diversified energy sources, and stronger state-level planning will be critical to sustaining momentum and ensuring reliable power supply.
Mr Kolluru Krishan, Chair - Energy, Green Economy & Climate Working Group, BRICS Business Council and Chairman, CVC Infrastructure, highlighted that India’s energy transition must be driven by unlocking renewable energy potential, strengthening emerging energy alternatives, and accelerating efforts towards achieving the Net Zero mission. He emphasized that energy storage, transmission readiness, green hydrogen, and integration of advanced technologies such as AI in renewable energy systems would be critical to building a resilient and future-ready energy ecosystem.
