NITI Aayog Viksit Bharat and Net Zero 2070 Report: Core Policy Framework
The National Institution for Transforming India (NITI Aayog) has released the definitive study report outlining the macroeconomic and energy transition pathways required to achieve a USD 30 trillion developed economy by 2047, alongside Net Zero emissions by 2070. This multi-ministerial roadmap establishes the baseline for all future government infrastructure planning, industrial policy, and climate financing.
Authority: NITI Aayog (Green Transition, Energy, Climate, and Environment Division)
Title: Scenarios Towards Viksit Bharat and Net Zero: An Overview (Vol. 1)
This analysis is based on the official Vol. 1 overview report drafted under the guidance of ten Inter-Ministerial Working Groups. For policy analysts and competitive examination candidates, the report definitively shifts the government’s stance from viewing climate action as a mere co-benefit to an integral, investment-driven pillar of India’s structural economic transformation.
What is the dual ambition outlined in the NITI Aayog report?
The dual ambition involves scaling the national GDP nearly eightfold within a single generation to achieve Viksit Bharat status by 2047, while simultaneously redirecting the entire energy system toward a low-carbon pathway to hit Net Zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2070. This requires an unprecedented decoupling of economic growth from fossil fuel consumption.
Macroeconomic Blueprint: The USD 22.7 Trillion Financial Requirement
The transition demands massive capital mobilisation. The study estimates a cumulative investment requirement of USD 22.7 trillion by 2070 under the Net Zero Scenario. The power sector alone accounts for over half of this total need due to the capital-intensive nature of deploying renewable generation, grid scale storage, and nuclear energy.
How will the government mobilise funds for the Net Zero transition?
To address the projected USD 6.53 trillion financing gap, the report proposes the creation of a purpose-built National Green Finance Institution (NGFI). This apex body will crowd in private capital, offer guarantees, and provide blended finance for early-stage technologies like Green Hydrogen and Carbon Capture, Utilisation, and Storage (CCUS).
| Economic & Demographic Indicator | 2023 / 2025 Status | 2047 / 2050 Projection | 2070 Target (Net Zero) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Urban Population Share | 37% | 51% | 65% |
| Electricity Share in Final Energy | 21% | 42% | 60% |
| Per-Capita Electricity (kWh) | 1,400 | 5,100 – 5,200 | 9,900 |
| Industrial Steel Production (Mt) | 127 | 568 | 821 |
Energy Transition Pathway: 6000 GW Renewables and 300 GW Nuclear
India’s primary energy mix will undergo a radical structural shift. While fossil fuels currently supply around 87 percent of total primary energy, the Net Zero Scenario projects their share plummeting to just 14 percent by 2070. The remaining fossil capacity will strictly leverage carbon capture solutions to mitigate residual emissions.
Renewable Capacity: Up to 6,700 GW by 2070
Nuclear Capacity: 290 to 320 GW by 2070
Transport: Near total elimination of oil for road travel
Demand Electrification (60% share by 2070)
Circular Economy (40% scrap utilisation in steel)
Green Hydrogen (50 Mt demand in industry)
What is the projected change in India’s energy intensity?
Despite the economy expanding elevenfold, total final energy demand will only increase moderately due to a massive drop in energy intensity. The energy intensity to GDP will fall from 0.22 MJ/INR in 2025 to just 0.04 MJ/INR by 2070, aligning India with the efficiency standards of highly developed nations.
Proposed Institutional Reforms and Administrative Actions
To execute this whole-of-economy transition, NITI Aayog recommends reinforcing the Prime Minister’s Council on Climate Change (PMCCC) by establishing a permanent Low-Carbon Development Cell or Secretariat. This executive body will ensure that line ministries and state governments align their five-year budgets with the Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) cycles.
How will the government track transition progress?
The report mandates the creation of a coherent national energy data architecture. This includes bridging statistics gaps via the MoSPI Expert Committee, setting up state-level energy cells for Biennial Transparency Report (BTR) compliance, and utilizing the Unified Energy Interface (UEI) as the digital backbone for seamless interoperability across the energy sector.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the estimated investment required for India’s Net Zero transition?
The NITI Aayog report estimates a cumulative investment requirement of USD 22.7 trillion by 2070 under the Net Zero Scenario, with the power sector requiring over half of these total funds.
Which new institution is proposed for climate finance in India?
The report proposes the establishment of a National Green Finance Institution (NGFI) to crowd in private capital, offer guarantees, and de-risk early-stage clean technologies like Green Hydrogen and CCUS.
What is the projected urban population of India by 2047?
According to the macroeconomic projections, India’s urban population is expected to rise from 37 percent in 2023 to 51 percent by 2047, fundamentally reshaping the demand for sustainable infrastructure.
What role does nuclear energy play in the Viksit Bharat 2070 target?
Nuclear energy emerges as a strategic pillar for providing firm, low-carbon baseload power. The installed nuclear capacity is projected to scale up from 8 GW in 2025 to between 290 and 320 GW by 2070.
हिंदी सारांश
नीति आयोग ने ‘विकसित भारत 2047 और नेट जीरो 2070’ पर अपनी विस्तृत रिपोर्ट जारी कर दी है। इस रिपोर्ट के अनुसार, 2047 तक भारत को 30 ट्रिलियन डॉलर की अर्थव्यवस्था बनाने और 2070 तक नेट जीरो उत्सर्जन का लक्ष्य हासिल करने के लिए लगभग 22.7 ट्रिलियन डॉलर के निवेश की आवश्यकता होगी। इसके लिए एक ‘नेशनल ग्रीन फाइनेंस इंस्टिट्यूशन’ और ‘लो-कार्बन डेवलपमेंट सेल’ की स्थापना का प्रस्ताव रखा गया है। ऊर्जा क्षेत्र में बड़ा बदलाव करते हुए 2070 तक रिन्यूएबल एनर्जी क्षमता को 6000 गीगावाट और परमाणु ऊर्जा को 300 गीगावाट तक ले जाने का लक्ष्य निर्धारित किया गया है। यह रिपोर्ट सिविल सेवा और अन्य प्रतियोगी परीक्षाओं की तैयारी कर रहे छात्रों के लिए अत्यंत महत्वपूर्ण है।
Share This in Office WhatsApp Group
