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The report identifies that India requires USD 300 billion in total investment by 2032 to meet its National Electricity Plan-14 targets. It argues that managing project-specific risks is essential to keep the cost of capital low, as a 400 basis point increase in this cost could result in India falling short of its 2030 renewable energy target by 100 GW. Key risks analyzed include commissioning delays, the complexities of Firm and Dispatchable Renewable Energy (FDRE) projects, PV module performance and localization, and the financial instability of distribution companies (DISCOMs).

India achieved a record 34.7 GW of power capacity additions in 2024, driven largely by solar PV. However, the report finds that replicating this record annual deployment would leave India short of its 500 GW non-fossil capacity target by 2030. To close this gap, annual wind and solar additions must grow by approximately 15% year-on-year, effectively doubling current record levels by the end of the decade. While renewables are on track to overtake operating coal capacity in total volume within two years, fossil fuels still contributed over two-thirds of the increase in power generation in 2024.

India leverages public spending—nearly 30% of its GDP—to drive environmental sustainability through green public procurement (GPP). While the country lacks a comprehensive national GPP policy, it utilizes administrative guidelines, the Government e-Marketplace (GeM), and sector-specific initiatives like the BEE star rating program. However, adoption is hindered by limited regulatory frameworks, a lack of stakeholder skills, perceived higher costs of green products, and incomplete monitoring systems. The report recommends strengthening legal frameworks, establishing a National SPP Competence Centre, scaling up third-party verified tools, and creating a robust monitoring and evaluation system.

India's energy transition is heavily driven by solar power, but thermal energy still meets approximately 80% of demand during non-solar hours. The report highlights that wind energy provides critical diurnal, seasonal, and spatial complementarity to solar, which can stabilize the grid and lower tariffs through hybrid projects. To meet the 14th National Electricity Plan (NEP14) targets by 2032, India must add 122 GW of wind capacity, requiring a 22% year-on-year growth rate. The document outlines policy interventions such as revised Renewable Purchase Obligations (RPO), repowering older turbines, and the development of offshore wind in Gujarat and Tamil Nadu, while noting that state-level policy gaps and land acquisition remain significant hurdles.

Climate Central analysis indicates that human-caused climate change increased the likelihood of an intense heat event in western and northwestern India from May 18-20, 2024. Forecasts predict daily high temperatures 3°C to over 6°C above average, with some areas exceeding 47°C and nighttime lows remaining above 34°C. Approximately 543 million people in India are expected to experience at least one day with a Climate Shift Index (CSI) level of 3 or higher during this period.

India faces significant climate vulnerability, with adaptation investment needs estimated between USD 14 billion and USD 67 billion annually for 2015-2030. While the government utilizes a 'co-benefits' approach—integrating adaptation into broader development goals—this makes it difficult to track specific adaptation funding. Analysis of six states' updated State Action Plans on Climate Change (SAPCCs) reveals a collective annual investment need of INR 444.7 billion (USD 5.5 billion) for 2021-30. State governments are the primary drivers of adaptation finance, but their capacity is constrained by high debt levels and strict borrowing limits under the Fiscal Responsibility and Budget Management (FRBM) Act. The report recommends that the 16th Finance Commission include adaptation variables in fund devolution and suggests using Public-Private Partnerships (PPPs) and blended finance to attract private capital, which is currently limited by data gaps and uncertain returns.

The analysis finds that all regions of India experienced net warming in March and April since 1970, with the fastest March warming in Jammu and Kashmir. The probability of temperatures exceeding 40°C during late March has expanded from three states in the 1970s to nine states in 2024, with Bilaspur currently facing the highest risk at 31%.

The 2024 Indian States’ Electricity Transition (SET) report identifies Gujarat and Karnataka as consistent top performers in decarbonising their power sectors and preparing their market ecosystems. While some states like Delhi and Odisha show high readiness or strong market enablers, they struggle with actual decarbonisation. Conversely, states such as Jharkhand, Bihar, West Bengal, and Uttar Pradesh exhibit structural challenges and slow progress across all dimensions. The report recommends strengthening state-level regulatory frameworks and developing specific subnational transition plans to address these uneven disparities.

In 2022, solar and wind energy accounted for 92% of India's new power generation capacity, totaling 15.7 GW, while coal additions dropped by 78% compared to 2021. Solar energy was the primary driver, adding 13.9 GW in a single year. Rajasthan and Gujarat emerged as the leading states, together contributing 8.6 GW of solar capacity and accounting for one-third of India's national 2030 renewable energy capacity target of 450 GW. Rajasthan set a state-level record by adding 6.7 GW of combined solar and wind capacity in 2022.

The report examines the role of voluntary sustainability standards (VSSs) in the South Asian cotton sector, specifically in Bangladesh, India, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka. It identifies three primary sustainability challenges: excessive synthetic pesticide use, severe water depletion, and volatile farmer incomes. The analysis finds that VSSs like Better Cotton, Organic, Fairtrade, and the REEL Cotton Code have significant market potential, particularly those allowing genetically modified (GM) cotton, which dominates the region. Spatial analysis indicates that VSSs are largely implemented in high-need areas, though gaps remain in regions like Andhra Pradesh and Haryana. The report concludes that while VSSs provide a framework for sustainable production, there is a lack of integrated regional policy or trade agreement provisions to scale these benefits, recommending stronger alignment between government policies and VSS requirements.

This executive summary describes the States’ Electricity Transition (SET) Scoring system developed by Ember to evaluate the electricity transition across 16 Indian states, which represent 90% of India's annual power requirement. The analysis focuses on four dimensions: decarbonisation, power system performance, power ecosystem readiness, and policies and political commitments. While some states like Karnataka show strong performance across all metrics, others, particularly Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, and West Bengal, require significant improvements in decarbonisation and system performance to meet national targets.

The document outlines strategies for implementing decentralized solar power plants in India's agriculture sector via the PM-KUSUM scheme. It addresses the distinct objectives of Component A (farmer income) and Component C (feeder-level solarization), while analyzing the water-energy-food nexus to prevent groundwater depletion. Key recommendations include reducing investment risks through 'deemed generation clauses', utilizing 'land banks' to facilitate developer-landowner interactions, and refining tariff calculations to reflect the higher O&M costs of small-scale plants. The guide also highlights the 'Paani Bachao Paisa Kamao' (PBPK) scheme in Punjab as a model for using direct cash incentives to encourage water conservation and discusses the potential of agrivoltaics to balance food and energy production.

As of August 2022, India had installed 116 GW of renewable energy, achieving 66% of its 175 GW target for December 2022. While solar power is driving growth, with 9.8 GW installed between January and August 2022, wind energy installations have slowed. Progress is highly uneven across states; Gujarat, Telangana, Rajasthan, and Karnataka have met their 2022 targets, while Maharashtra, Uttar Pradesh, Andhra Pradesh, and Madhya Pradesh account for 61% of the national target shortfall. To reach the 2030 target of 450 GW, India must increase its monthly installation rate to 3.7 GW, which is 2.5 times the average rate seen in the first eight months of 2022.

As of March 2022, India had installed 110 GW of renewable energy (RE) capacity, representing 63% of its 175 GW target for December 2022. Progress is highly uneven across states; while Telangana, Rajasthan, Karnataka, and Andaman and Nicobar have surpassed their targets, 27 states and union territories have achieved less than 50% of their goals. Five states—Maharashtra, Uttar Pradesh, Andhra Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, and Tamil Nadu—account for two-thirds of the national shortfall. Recent growth has been heavily concentrated in Rajasthan and Gujarat, which together provided 73% of new RE capacity between October 2021 and March 2022. To meet the 2030 target of 450 GW RE, India requires an average annual addition of 42.5 GW.

Uttar Pradesh is lagging behind other high-demand Indian states in renewable energy adoption, with only 30% of its 2022 capacity target achieved by October 2021. The state remains heavily dependent on coal, which accounts for approximately 90% of in-state generation, leaving it vulnerable to supply chain disruptions and high costs. IEEFA modelling suggests that if the state meets its 2030 target of 23.5GW of solar, solar power could meet the majority of future electricity demand growth. However, progress is hindered by the financial instability of state-owned distribution companies (Discoms), characterized by high AT&C losses and expensive long-term thermal power purchase agreements. The report recommends retiring old coal plants, expanding distributed solar, and utilizing open market platforms to improve the financial viability of the electricity sector.

The document outlines a framework for the sustainable deployment of solar irrigation in India, focusing on the water-energy-food (WEF) nexus. It provides detailed guidance across five key areas: inter-departmental coordination, financing and affordability, beneficiary targeting, infrastructure support, and monitoring and evaluation (M&E). The guide emphasizes the need to protect groundwater resources, support small and marginal farmers, and transition away from high-subsidy models through innovative financing and ownership structures.

The report identifies 27 GW of planned coal power plants in India as "zombie" assets that are superfluous to the country's electricity requirements for FY 2030. It argues that India can meet both aggregate and peak demand growth through its existing construction pipeline and the expansion of renewable energy (RE) and battery storage. The analysis suggests that cancelling these projects would save Rs. 247,421 crore in capital expenditure and potentially reduce annual power purchase costs by Rs. 43,219 crore. The report warns that building these plants would lock consumers into expensive contracts, create stranded assets, and jeopardize India's target of 450 GW of RE by 2030.

The document examines the implementation of solar irrigation in three Indian states, focusing on the water-energy-food (WEF) nexus. It analyzes the effectiveness of standalone and grid-connected solar pumps, the role of the PM-KUSUM scheme, and the challenges of financing, coordination, and groundwater management. Key findings highlight the success of combining solar pumps with micro-irrigation in Rajasthan, the innovative cooperative and IoT monitoring models in Gujarat, and the use of BLDC pumps and grid-scale solar planning in Andhra Pradesh.

The Land Accelerator South Asia program, launched by the World Resources Institute (WRI) in 2020, supports entrepreneurs developing business models to restore degraded lands. The 2021 cohort grew to 58 entrepreneurs, with women's participation increasing from 13% in 2020 to 31% in 2021. The program provides mentorship, grants, and connections to impact investors to scale solutions in sustainable agriculture, agroforestry, and agritech. This booklet highlights eleven specific startups, detailing their technological solutions—such as AI-based weeding robots, drone-based precision agriculture, and bio-economic waste conversion—and their reported socio-economic and environmental impacts, including increased farmer incomes and carbon sequestration.

The report finds that tracked green finance in India averaged INR 124 thousand crores (USD 19 billion) per year for FY 2017-2018, representing only about 10% of the estimated annual requirement for climate action. Domestic private finance was the largest contributor, with the vast majority of funds flowing into renewable energy, specifically solar and wind power. While public finance increased due to government initiatives and the role of Public Sector Undertakings (PSUs), the report highlights significant data gaps and the need for a standardized green finance taxonomy and a national measurement, reporting, and verification (MRV) system to scale investments.