As India deepens its energy transition and the United States recalibrate its global partnerships, the US–India energy relationship stands at a pivotal moment. From energy technology collaboration, clean energy supply chains to geopolitical strategy, the partnership is evolving into a key pillar of bilateral engagement shaping both nations’ economic and climate futures.
In this episode, we speak with Richard Rossow, Senior Adviser and Chair in India and Emerging Asia Economics at the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS). We discuss the evolution of the US–India energy ties — from the 2005 Civil Nuclear Agreement to today’s cooperation on clean energy and LNG. Richard unpacks how energy fits into the broader US–India strategic relationship, the growing role of private capital, and what milestones to watch over the next decade in building a resilient, low-carbon future.
Full transcript of the episode is available in English.
Presented by 101Reporters
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Coal India Limited or CIL — the world’s largest coal mining company and one of India’s most influential state-owned enterprises — is now 50 years old. Established to secure the India’s energy needs, Coal India has long been the backbone of India’s industrial and power sectors. But as the country moves toward its net-zero by 2070 goal, the company is now undergoing one of the most significant transformations in its history.
From being the guardian of India’s coal reserves, Coal India is venturing into new frontiers — investing in critical minerals, solar energy, and coal gasification — signalling a bold pivot toward a cleaner, more diversified energy future.
In this episode of The India Energy Hour, we speak with P.M. Prasad, Chairman-cum-Managing Director of Coal India Limited, who reflects on his four-decade journey within the company and shares insights into its evolution, challenges, and vision for the future. Mr. Prasad discusses the founding mission of Coal India, its major milestones, and how the company plans to redefine itself in a decarbonising world.
Full transcript of the episode is available in English
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Since the dawn of the Electricity Act, 2003, India's power transmission sector has undergone a transformation during the last two decades. The gates of the sector were open for the private sector, which brought with it investment and innovation. While the private sector continued to face the challenge of competing with an almost monopolistic government organisation, it has been able to grab a sizeable share while also bringing the cost down.
And just like any other part of the electricity supply chain in the country, the power transmission sector also stands at the cusp of another transformation with the advent of large-scale renewable energy and new energy solutions.
To understand the growth of the country's power transmission sector and what its focus areas are and how it is evolving along with the ever-changing landscape of the power sector, we talked with Pratik Agarwal, managing director of Sterlite Electric and chairman of Resonia. Agarwal has been one of the early movers in the power transmission sector and has a diversified portfolio of businesses in power equipment, manufacturing, renewable energy generation, and allied businesses.
Full transcript of the episode is available in English.
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Solving the climate crisis—whether by scaling renewable energy or phasing down fossil fuels—requires rigorous, science-based policy that delivers win-win solutions for stakeholders.
In this episode, Dr. Jai Asundi, Executive Director of the Center for Study of Science, Technology and Policy (CSTEP), shares how to navigate India’s complex energy and climate policy landscape to ensure research doesn’t just sit on shelves, but actively shapes decisions for a sustainable future.
Full transcript of the episode is available in English.
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If there is one common issue that all electricity reforms face in India it is the state of power distribution segment. State owned power distribution companies (discoms) while being marred with financial and operational inefficiencies also plague the rest of the electricity supply chain. Multiple bailout packages and reform schemes have moved the needle of improvement only so much.
So what will it take to revive the discoms and fix the forever leaking pipe? To understand this and the transformation that the distribution sector is undergoing, we talked with Alok Kumar. Kumar was former secretary, union ministry of power. An IAS officer, Kumar has held notable positions at state level and in the central government. He is currently director general, All India Discoms Association (AIDA), a newly formed body to further better policies for power distribution sector.
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As India moves to reduce its coal dependence and reach its climate goals, the spotlight is turning to hard-to-abate sectors that are both energy-intensive and vital to economic growth. What would a realistic transition look like for these industries? And how can finance, policy, and innovation come together to drive change?
In this episode, we speak with Girish Sethi, Senior Director of the Energy Program at The Energy and Resources Institute or TERI to unpack one of the toughest challenges in India's clean energy journey — decarbonizing the steel and cement sectors.
Full transcript of the episode is available in English
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The evolution of India’s electricity grid reflects the ever-changing dynamics of the country’s economic and infrastructure growth. Built as a backbone to coal-based power, the grid is now upgrading itself to handle green electricity, give space to energy storage and be flexible to fluctuating demand-supply scenarios.
The India Energy Hour brings a special series on the progress of the grid in India, how far it has come in last the 78 years and what the future looks like as we aim to be a net carbon zero economy in the next two decades. From policy to technology, the series scans all aspects of the country’s electricity grid.
In the second part, we spoke with tech-entrepreneur Vishal Pandya, co-founder, REConnect Energy, a Bengaluru based digital energy platform. REConnect builds AI and grid automation software products for energy utilities, and provides tech solutions for electricity market products and renewable energy management.
Full transcript of the episode is available in English
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The evolution of India’s electricity grid reflects the ever-changing dynamics of the country’s economic and infrastructure growth. Built as a backbone to coal-based power, the grid is now upgrading itself to handle green electricity, give space to energy storage and be flexible to fluctuating demand-supply scenarios.
The India Energy Hour brings a special series on the progress of the grid in India, how far it has come in last the 78 years and what the future looks like as we aim to be a net carbon zero economy in the next two decades. From policy to technology, the series scans all aspects of the country’s electricity grid.
In the first part, we spoke with a man synonymous with the grid’s evolution – S K Soonee – first CEO of the Power System Operation Corporation (now Grid India), country’s central power grid operator. Soonee was at the helm of creation of Grid India, key development milestones and policy-altering incidents.
Full transcript of the episode is available in English
Presented by 101Reporters
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The oil and gas sector in India has been a story of evolution from once private entities turning into nationalised companies and then again the entry of private sector in 1990s. Initially, the upstream oil exploration sector witnessed a lot of private investment but then it slowed down. The downstream oil sector simultaneously saw a variety of social schemes, billions of government funds, and private investment from marquee names. The natural gas sector, on the other hand, is a story where import dependence has only increased over the years, making the supply to key sectors, like power generation difficult, since imported gas price cannot match the cost advantage of coal. At the same time, India is aspiring to be a gas-based economy. Mega scale city gas distribution and piped gas network expansion is also under works. In the middle of this, ethanol blending programme for petrol has taken off well. Simultaneously, a pilot project on green hydrogen blending with natural gas has also started in Madhya Pradesh.
To unwrap the past, present and what could be the future policies and plans for India’s oil and gas sector, we talked with Jyoti Mukul, a seasoned energy infrastructure writer. Ms Mukul was a journalist for nearly three decades and has followed milestone developments of the country’s energy security and transition efforts. She is a well-known policy analyst for energy and infrastructure sectors and her first book ‘The Great Shutdown: A story of two Indian Summers’, highlighting the infrastructure challenges posed by the Covid pandemic, came out in 2022.
Full transcript of the episode is available in English
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As the impacts of climate change intensify and clean energy deployment becomes crucial, energy and climate diplomacy have emerged as powerful tools to drive international cooperation and unlock finance, technology, and ambition. From global summits like COP, G7, and G20, to bilateral and multilateral partnerships, countries are negotiating entire frameworks for energy access, green industrial growth, and just transitions.
But how does climate diplomacy actually work? What are the real levers for influencing outcomes in a fragmented, multipolar world? And once big declarations are made, how do we ensure follow-through and accountability on the ground?
To unpack these questions, we speak with Madhura Joshi, Programme Lead - Asia Hub at E3G. Madhura is an expert in international energy and climate negotiations.
Full transcript of the episode is available in English
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Like other peers, India has increasingly started focusing on securing critical minerals for its energy and industrial sectors. From lithium and cobalt to rare earth elements, these minerals are essential for clean technologies like batteries, solar panels, and wind turbines. As the world races to secure these resources, India is looking to position itself strategically. But, how big is India’s mining sector today, and how much could it grow in response to rising global demand? Can India realistically find its space when China and the West are in a geopolitical race for critical minerals? What does India’s evolving critical minerals policy look like, and who are the major players – especially state-owned enterprises?
To help us unpack these questions, we speak with Abhinav Sengupta, energy and mining expert who brings deep insights into India’s policy and industrial strategy around critical minerals.
Full transcript of the episode is available in English
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Methane is often overlooked in the climate change discourse, as against carbon. Methane is over 80 times more potent at trapping heat in the atmosphere over a 20-year period. Released from sources like livestock, landfills, and leaky oil and gas infrastructure, methane is a tricky problem to solve.
In this episode we understand what methane emissions are and how to plug them. Cutting methane emissions can be one the fastest ways to slow global warming.
For this relevant issue, we talked with Hisham Mundol, Chief Advisor in India to the Environmental Defense Fund (EDF). Mundol is a seasoned development sector executive with experience in both government and private entities.
Full transcript of the episode is available in English
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Hydrogen is gaining significant traction as a key element in the global and Indian transition to clean energy. However, with different types of hydrogen production—green, grey, and blue—there’s much to unpack. Green hydrogen, produced from renewable energy sources, is widely regarded as the most sustainable option but is very expensive to produce. India’s National Green Hydrogen Mission, with a target of 5 million metric tons of green hydrogen by 2030, is a bold move in the country’s energy transition. But is this target too ambitious? What does the policy landscape around hydrogen in India look like, and what challenges and opportunities lie ahead?
To understand the role of hydrogen, especially green hydrogen, in India’s energy transition, we interviewed Vijay Shekhawat, Vice President (Public Affairs), Thyssenkrupp Nucera. Vijay is regarded as an energy expert with a deep understanding of India’s energy landscape.
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As India eyes its net zero targets, Carbon Capture, Utilization, and Storage (CCUS) is becoming central to decarbonizing core industries like steel, cement, and petrochemicals. While the technology holds immense promise, its adoption in India remains limited—hindered by cost concerns and lack of policy clarity.
To understand the road ahead, we spoke with Mr. Atanu Mukherjee, CEO of Dastur Energy. From shaping early internet technologies to leading CCUS innovation in India, Mr. Atanu Mukherjee shares a compelling perspective on the need for supportive policies, financing models, and industry-wide collaboration to scale CCUS in India’s energy transition.
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As India transitions toward a low-carbon future, the private sector’s role in embracing sustainability and ESG is paramount. While top corporations lead with ambitious net-zero goals, many small and mid-sized firms are yet to begin their sustainability and ESG journey — held back by data challenges, lack of awareness, and complex disclosure frameworks.
To understand how Indian companies can embrace sustainability and ESG, we spoke with Ms. Prarthana Borah, Vice President, Momentum. With decades of experience across environmental education and corporate sustainability, she offers valuable insights on simplifying ESG frameworks, building internal capacity, and unlocking the potential of India’s private sector in the net-zero transition.
Full transcript of the episode is available in English
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State-Owned Enterprises (SoEs) in the Oil & Gas sector play a critical role in ensuring energy security for the country. They are among the most diversified entities, spanning the entire oil & gas value chain—from upstream to downstream operations. But as India moves toward its net zero goals, the question arises: Can oil & gas SoEs diversify into clean energy sectors? What challenges must they overcome to adapt? And how can they improve carbon management in a Net Zero India?
To explore the evolving role of Oil & Gas SoEs in India's energy transition, we spoke with Mr. Deepak Tandon, Executive Director of the Carbon Management and Sustainability Group at ONGC Ltd. With over four decades of experience in Indian SoEs, Mr. Tandon shares invaluable insights into how SoEs future in a net zero India.
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The role of State-Owned Enterprises (SoEs) in India's energy transition cannot be overstated. SoEs, or Public Sector Undertakings (PSUs), control majority of India’s fossil fuel production and provide millions of jobs across the country. As India accelerates its energy transition, these enterprises will play a crucial role in scaling the rapid deployment of clean energy. Historically, SoEs have been key drivers of economic growth and local welfare. However, they are often seen as bureaucratic, slow in decision-making, and susceptible to political influence.
To gain insights into the role Indian SoEs can play in this energy transition, we spoke with Dr. B. Veera Reddy, Former Director (Technical) of Coal India Limited and Chairman-cum-Managing Director of Central Coalfields Limited. Dr. Reddy brings nearly four decades of experience working with Indian SoEs.
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India's foray into renewable energy (RE) started with its thermal power giant NTPC Ltd.In the mid-2000s, NTPC, which is also the country's largest power generator, formed a division that would bundle RE with thermal and sell it together. Cut to 20 years later, NTPC has become the first public sector enterprise (PSEs) to publicly list its dedicated RE company.
Most of the paradigm shifts in the Indian economy have been invariably led by PSEs, which Nehru called the Temples of Modern India. From coal mining to power generation, mega hydroelectric dams, and now green transition.
To understand the history of energy policy making in India and the role of government and government-owned entities, we talked with Mohit Bhargava, former CEO, NTPC Green Energy Ltd.
Bhargava, a career NTPC executive, has been involved with key responsibilities in the organisation, the last and most significant being expansion in the RE sector. Bhargava has served in several departments and plant locations of NTPC, earning him rich experience. He is known for his deep insights on policy, corporate strategy, and energy transition.
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Climate crisis unfolding in India will first impact our plates!
Farms lands, agri commodities, coastal areas are in ten first line of impact from climate change induced extreme weather conditions. Not only does it spike the cost of food, several researchers say it alters its taste and texture too. Close to 60% of India population is dependent on farming as primary employment. Extreme weather is now playing huge role in food inflation in India.
To understand what is happening to our food givers and how the Indian economy can cope up, we talked with Sanjeeb Mukherjee, Agriculture Editor, Business Standard.
Mukherjee has been a journalist for more than two decades and has been closely covering India's rural, agriculture sector and the food economy. An incisive reporter, Mukherjee regularly travels across the country to understand the changes on the ground, innovations which are making our farmlands better and what the other India outside our cities want.
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The consecutive G20 presidencies of Indonesia (2022), India (2023), Brazil (2024), and South Africa (2025) has resulted in four consecutive G20 presidencies held by emerging economies. This moment is hailed by many as a grand opportunity for Global South countries to make a push on different topics including on energy transition, and climate action. Collectively, in the climate and energy space, these countries have shown leadership on topics like Just Energy Transition Partnership (JETP), Green Development, Climate Finance & LiFE, Energy Transition and Sustainable Development among others. Can they do more? How much more and what are limits of G2O process?
To understand how G20s works, and how best can it be used for advocating for stronger energy and climate policies by Global South countries, we interviewed Dr. Prabhat Upadhyaya, G20 and Multilateral Advisor, African Climate Foundation. Prabhat is a leading climate and energy expert who has previously worked with G2O secretariat in India and is currently in South Africa leading work on G20 in South Africa.
Full transcript of the episode is available in English
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