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This case study describes the HimGra® pilot project in the Chamoli district of Uttarakhand, India, which focuses on building climate resilience by cultivating a regenerative Himalayan grass on degraded, rocky land. The project, supported by the Global Resilience Partnership (GRP) and ICIMOD, utilizes women-led Self-Help Groups (SHGs) to regenerate soil and create a sustainable fiber for luxury fashion and technical textiles, thereby diversifying rural incomes and reducing soil erosion.

The report 'Mapping India’s Energy Policy 2026' analyzes the fiscal impact of energy subsidies in India, highlighting a significant imbalance where fossil fuel subsidies were three times higher than clean energy subsidies in FY 25. It examines how electricity subsidies burden state budgets and utilities, the fiscal vulnerability caused by LPG import dependence during geopolitical crises, and the impact of fuel excise duty cuts on government revenue and EV adoption.

The Indian States’ Electricity Transition (SET) 2026 report evaluates 21 Indian states across three dimensions: decarbonisation, power ecosystem readiness and performance, and market enablers. It finds that progress is fragmented, with no single state demonstrating consistently strong performance across all three areas, highlighting the need for coordinated, dimension-specific interventions to achieve a system-wide transition.

This report by RMI analyzes the techno-economic pathways for green hydrogen production in India, examining 17 states to evaluate the impact of national and subnational policies on production costs. It compares various project configurations—including stand-alone on-site, CTU-connected, and STU-connected projects—and highlights the critical role of transmission charge waivers and capital subsidies in achieving cost competitiveness against grey hydrogen.

The 2024 Indian States’ Electricity Transition (SET) report, published by IEEFA and Ember, assesses the progress of 21 Indian states across three dimensions: Decarbonisation, Readiness and Performance of the Power Ecosystem, and Market Enablers. The report identifies Gujarat and Karnataka as consistent top performers, while highlighting structural challenges in states like Jharkhand, Bihar, West Bengal, and Uttar Pradesh. It recommends strengthening state-level regulatory frameworks and developing specific state-level transition plans to accelerate the shift toward clean electricity.

This report by Ember analyses state-wise renewable energy (RE) capacity in India as of March 2022, evaluating progress toward the national target of 175 GW by December 2022. It highlights significant regional disparities, with a small number of states driving most of the new capacity while many others fall well behind their targets.

This briefing by RMI argues that India's power sector is insufficiently prepared for the increasing frequency of climate-induced extreme weather events. It advocates for a shift toward resilience-based planning, including grid hardening, the adoption of flexible energy sources, and the creation of system redundancies to prevent cascading failures across critical services and transportation.

This case study document describes the Land Accelerator South Asia program, a World Resources Institute (WRI) initiative launched in 2020 to support entrepreneurs developing sustainable business models for restoring degraded forests and farmlands. The document details the program's growth from a 2020 cohort of 15 businesses to a 2021 cohort of 58, and provides detailed profiles of 11 specific restoration startups operating across India and Sri Lanka.

This research paper proposes a theoretical framework for designing a Payment Security Mechanism (PSM) to mitigate counterparty credit risk for renewable energy projects in India. The authors define a PSM as a funded capital reserve providing interest-free working capital to projects when state-owned electricity distribution companies (DISCOMs) default on payments. Using a probabilistic methodology and a sample of eight DISCOMs, the paper estimates the size of payment support needed to enhance project credit ratings, concluding that while a PSM can improve ratings up to a BB level, it cannot achieve investment-grade status (BBB or higher) due to non-counterparty risks.

This report by the Climate and Development Knowledge Network (CDKN) outlines its activities and strategic approach to promoting climate compatible development in India. It details the use of multi-criteria decision analysis (MCDA) to align Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) with sustainable development, the implementation of urban Heat Action Plans, and the promotion of private sector financing for rural renewable energy. The document emphasizes the integration of climate resilience into disaster risk management and the importance of gender-sensitive planning.

This report describes the methodology and structure of the Climate Asia study in India, which surveyed 33,500 people across seven Asian countries to understand their experiences with climate change and their communication needs.

This report reviews the State Disaster Management Plans (SDMPs) of five Indian states—Assam, Bihar, Gujarat, Odisha, and Uttarakhand—to evaluate their effectiveness in disaster risk reduction, financing, vulnerability assessment, and alignment with the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction 2015–2030.

This 2013 fact sheet from the Climate and Development Knowledge Network (CDKN) outlines its activities and partnerships in India aimed at promoting climate compatible development. The document details specific projects focusing on urban heat responses, gender-responsive state action plans, community radio for adaptation knowledge, and resilient housing. It also highlights a 'silent disaster' in Ladakh involving massive livestock loss due to extreme snowfall and provides a critical analysis of the challenges facing State Action Plans for Climate Change (SAPCCs) in India.

This December 2012 fact sheet from the Climate and Development Knowledge Network (CDKN) outlines its technical assistance, research projects, and policy influence in India. The document highlights efforts to integrate Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) with climate change adaptation, mainstream gender in state action plans, and promote low-carbon construction.

This policy brief examines the Jawaharlal Nehru National Solar Mission, launched in 2009 to establish India as a global leader in solar energy and make solar power affordable by 2022. It analyzes the Mission's three-phase implementation strategy, focusing on grid-connected projects, off-grid applications for rural populations, and the development of domestic manufacturing and R&D. The document highlights the tension between using competitive bidding to lower tariffs and the risk of attracting inexperienced developers, while also critiquing the Mission's limited focus on the most energy-poor citizens and the lack of mandatory environmental impact assessments.

This policy brief by the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) advocates for a transition in India from fossil-fuel-based clean cooking, specifically liquefied petroleum gas (LPG), toward non-fossil alternatives. The authors propose a twin strategy: scaling biogas for rural areas and electric cooking (e-cooking) for urban and peri-urban households to reduce fiscal burdens, import dependency, and environmental impacts.

This case study by Natural Justice examines the legal attempt by the High Court of Uttarakhand to grant legal personhood to the Ganges and Yamuna rivers to protect them from pollution and encroachment, and the subsequent stay of that order by the Supreme Court of India.

This research paper by the World Resources Institute examines the integration, or 'mainstreaming', of climate change adaptation into sectoral development plans and budgets in India. Using case studies from Madhya Pradesh and Uttarakhand, the paper identifies key drivers for successful adaptation, such as the role of political and administrative leadership, the importance of programmatic over project-specific funding for sustainability, and the necessity of capacity building and inter-sectoral coordination.