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The report finds that while renewable energy auctions are generally cost-effective and fair in project allocation, they often suffer from low deployment due to poor risk management. By analyzing 20 global auctions, the study identifies that project risks (such as transmission and land acquisition) have a greater negative impact on deployment than auction-specific risks. The authors recommend a 'controlled environment' for introducing wind energy auctions in India, including pre-identified sites and resource assessments, alongside the use of strong penalties for non-commissioning and payment guarantee mechanisms to ensure financial viability.

The document examines India's Accelerated Depreciation (AD) scheme, which served as a primary driver for wind capacity growth from 1994 until its withdrawal in 2012 and subsequent reinstatement in 2014. While the AD benefit successfully attracted private investment from corporations and high-net-worth individuals, it was criticized for incentivizing capacity additions over actual power generation and excluding large independent power producers and foreign investors. The report contrasts this with the Generation-Based Incentive (GBI) and the US experience with Production Tax Credits, concluding that future policies must link incentives to performance and improve grid infrastructure to ensure sustainable industry growth.

The report finds that India's LPG subsidy system is highly regressive, primarily benefiting wealthy urban households while the poorest fifth of the population receives less than 1% of the total direct subsidy. While an initial household cylinder cap of six in September 2012 temporarily limited subsidy growth and improved distribution, subsequent increases of the cap to nine and then 12 cylinders effectively reversed these gains. The Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) program is criticized for failing to decouple subsidy receipt from fuel consumption and for introducing administrative inefficiencies without improving equity or fiscal responsibility.

The report evaluates India's 'Green Industrial Policy' as a blend of market-failure corrections and traditional industrial development goals. While the 'green' objectives—energy access, security, and GHG abatement—have seen success, the industrial policy goals of creating a competitive domestic manufacturing base and fostering R&D have fared poorly. The solar sector has struggled against cheap imports, while the wind sector, though more mature, has seen a decline in global competitiveness and a recent drop in installations following the withdrawal of tax incentives.

The project installed urine-diverting dry toilets, waterless urinals, and a sanitary napkin incinerator at Prakash Elementary School to address inadequate sanitation and menstrual hygiene management. While the facilities improved school attendance for girls and increased student awareness of water saving, the project faced challenges regarding the maintenance of facilities and the acceptance of treated excreta for agricultural reuse.

The report examines the tension between India's centralized conservation laws, such as the Wild Life (Protection) Act 1972, and the rights of forest-dependent communities. It highlights the Scheduled Tribes and Other Traditional Forest Dwellers (Recognition of Forest Rights) Act 2006 (FRA) as a critical tool for securing community tenure and management rights. The document details various types of CCAs, including sacred groves and community-managed forests, while criticizing the 'ecodevelopment' model and the lack of legal recognition for marine and wetland conservation initiatives. It concludes with recommendations for legal reforms to prioritize site-specific, decentralized governance and the recognition of customary laws.

A study of irrigation subsidies in Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, and Kerala estimated annual subsidies at US$575 million between 2004 and 2008, primarily covering interest on capital and operation and maintenance costs. The report notes that actual subsidies are likely higher due to the exclusion of smaller schemes and private groundwater electricity subsidies, and warns that poor data recording and cost overruns in incomplete projects hinder effective policy assessment.

The author contends that national adaptation plans, such as National Adaptation Programs of Action (NAPAs), are overly state-driven and top-down, failing to engage the local communities that actually experience climate impacts. Because adaptation is inherently local, the paper argues that CSOs and NGOs are best positioned to build adaptive capacity, represent vulnerable populations, and ensure that technological interventions are socially embedded and sustainable. The author details several roles for CSOs, including resource mobilisation, vulnerability mapping, and advocating for regulatory changes to protect nature-based livelihoods. The document concludes by recommending a multi-tier institutional framework, citing India's National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) as a model for coordinating efforts between government, CSOs, and local stakeholders.

The report argues that India's push for jatropha to meet biodiesel targets has led to the forced displacement of tribal and lower-caste communities from their traditional lands. While promoted as a pro-poor, non-food crop for 'waste land', the report finds that jatropha often displaces food crops and common resources, fails to thrive due to poor understanding of growing conditions, and is unlikely to be commercially viable as a monoculture.

The World Resources Institute (WRI) reported total CO2 emissions of 1,125 metric tons in 2006 and 1,288 metric tons in 2007, representing increases of 6% and 21% respectively over its 2000 base year. These increases are attributed to a 33% growth in staff and the expansion of office space in Washington, DC. To maintain a "net zero" balance, WRI utilized the Chicago Climate Exchange for 2006 offsets and transitioned to Certified Emission Reductions (CERs) under the Kyoto Protocol's Clean Development Mechanism for 2007, sourcing credits from wind and landfill gas projects in India and China. Management activities included achieving LEED Gold Certification for office expansion and planning a 3,600-square-foot green roof. WRI also utilized Renewable Energy Certificates (RECs) to cover 100% of its 2007 electricity use, though it maintained a conservative accounting approach by purchasing offsets for all reported emissions regardless of REC value.

An analysis of 52 Indian CDM projects registered by May 2006 reveals a systemic preference for barrier analysis over investment analysis, with significant gaps in transparency and evidence. The study finds that while 94% of projects use barrier tests, only 33% conduct investment analyses, and only 50% identify alternatives. Detailed case studies of JSW Steel and Bajaj Auto illustrate that the CDM Executive Board's additionality assessments are inconsistent, often depending on how information is 'packaged' by developers. The author concludes that validators frequently fail to critically evaluate barrier claims, potentially allowing non-additional projects to increase net global emissions.

The document analyzes the escalation of the Sinhalese-Tamil ethnic conflict in Sri Lanka from 1983 to 1986, focusing on the 'criminal fire'—reprisals and atrocities—committed by both government security forces and Tamil guerrillas. It argues that the conflict has evolved from social discrimination into an ethnic war where the conduct of armed forces actively reproduces the violence. The author proposes a two-step resolution process: first, the application of the Law of Armed Conflict and Human Rights Law to de-escalate military violence, followed by the use of human rights law to manage the political struggle. The report suggests international assistance from the UN, the Commonwealth, and the Red Cross, and advocates for radical reform of the Sri Lankan police and army to make them representative of both ethnic communities.

The document details the India-UK Energy for Growth Partnership, focusing on four main areas of cooperation: capacity building for legislators, off-grid renewable ventures, the development of the offshore wind market, and the scaling of solar initiatives. It highlights the UK's role in providing technical advisory, financial modeling, and policy frameworks to help India reach its target of 175GW of renewable energy by 2022. Key efforts include the creation of the 'Renewable Energy Local Area Development toolkit' for legislators and the formulation of the National Offshore Wind Energy Policy in 2016.

The report identifies four priority sub-sectors for green investment in India: Green Hydrogen, Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS), Climate Smart Agriculture (CSA), and Waste Management & Material Circularity. It highlights a significant investment gap, noting that India may face a shortfall of $3.5 trillion to achieve its net-zero target. For Green Hydrogen, the report emphasizes the need to reduce costs from above $4/kg to $2/kg to achieve economic viability. In the BESS sector, it projects annual battery demand between 106 GWh and 260 GWh by 2030. Climate Smart Agriculture is presented as a critical area for both mitigation and adaptation, though currently underfunded in upstream and on-farm solutions. Waste Management is highlighted as a $45 billion market opportunity by 2030, with a specific focus on the growing potential of lithium-ion battery recycling. The document also argues for the urgent scaling of private adaptation financing, noting that 80% of key adaptation markets in India are currently nascent or mid-level.

The document describes the methodology for the Indian States’ Electricity Transition analysis, which evaluates 16 states representing approximately 90% of India's annual power requirement. The analysis uses 17 parameters across four dimensions: Decarbonisation, Performance of the Power System, Readiness of the Power Ecosystem, and Policies and Political Commitments. Data for financial year 2021-22 was primarily sourced from government entities such as the Central Electricity Authority (CEA) and NITI Aayog, then normalised and weighted by sectoral experts to produce state-wise scores.

The report evaluates 16 Indian states on their electricity transition across four dimensions: decarbonisation, power system performance, ecosystem readiness, and policy commitments. Karnataka is identified as the top performer across all dimensions, while states like Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, and West Bengal are urged to ramp up efforts. The analysis highlights that many renewable-rich states have significant untapped potential and recommends improving data transparency, strengthening transmission infrastructure, and expanding green market mechanisms to accelerate the transition.

In 2025, the BRICS nations experienced their largest power capacity expansion on record, characterized by a 'split transition' where both fossil fuels and renewables reached historic highs. While 125 GW of new coal, oil, and gas capacity was added, solar and wind additions totaled 497 GW. This growth was heavily concentrated in China and India, where record renewable deployment began to reduce coal-fired generation despite continued coal capacity expansion. In contrast, other BRICS members like Russia and Iran remain overwhelmingly fossil-based, while Brazil, South Africa, Egypt, and the UAE show varying degrees of renewable growth and fossil fuel reliance.

The document examines the application of the Low Emissions Analysis Platform (LEAP) in Tamil Nadu to help state planners design low-carbon energy pathways. It highlights Tamil Nadu's significant renewable energy potential and current capacity, while warning that continuing current trends without intervention will lead to a sharp increase in emissions due to thermal energy generation. The study argues for an integrated planning approach that includes phasing down inefficient thermal plants, managing capacity additions to avoid surpluses, and implementing demand-side energy-efficiency measures.

The paper analyzes the policy landscape for clean energy transition in India's MSME sector from 2010-2020, highlighting that while government commitment exists, adoption is hindered by awareness gaps, burdensome application processes, and a shift in SME priorities toward pandemic recovery. It finds that the integration of central and state schemes is more effective than stand-alone state programs.

The paper presents 12 combinations of three demand and four supply scenarios to help Tamil Nadu plan its energy mix through 2030-31, emphasizing the need for storage integration in ambitious renewable pathways and careful power purchase planning given the financial state of TANGEDCO.