Explain the key challenges for India's energy security. What measures do you suggest for ensuring energy…

Question

Explain the key challenges for India's energy security. What measures do you suggest for ensuring energy security along with economic growth and sustainability? (Answer in 250 words)

Ghissu Editorial · Accepted Answer

India's energy security is threatened by import dependence, coal lock-in, missing storage and mineral chokepoints, and needs diversified supply, firm clean power and secure critical minerals. India imports over 85% of its crude oil, so diversification and domestic clean energy matter most.

**Introduction**

India, the world's third-largest energy consumer, will add more energy demand this decade than any other country (IEA World Energy Outlook 2024). Reliable, affordable and clean supply is therefore central to growth and the net-zero 2070 pledge.

**Key Challenges to India's Energy Security**

1. **Import dependence**: India imports over 85% of its crude oil and about half its gas, so shocks like the 2022 Russia-Ukraine war hit the import bill and inflation.
2. **Coal lock-in**: Coal still generates about 74% of electricity (PIB, 2025), tying supply to mining and rail logistics.
3. **Storage gap**: Non-fossil sources crossed half of installed capacity in 2025, but storage lags a projected need of about 411 GWh by 2031-32 (CEA).
4. **Mineral chokepoints**: Lithium, rare earths and solar wafers are China-concentrated; module capacity reached 74 GW but cell capacity only 25 GW by March 2025 (PIB).

**Measures for Security with Growth and Sustainability**

SKETCH: venn | The Energy Trilemma
a: Security
b: Growth
c: Sustainability
overlap: Diversified clean mix

1. **Diversify supply**: Widen crude sourcing, as Russia's rise to top supplier in 2022-23 showed, and expand the 5.33 MMT strategic reserves.
2. **Firm clean power**: Pair the 500 GW non-fossil target with battery and pumped storage, and back small modular reactors through the ₹20,000 crore Nuclear Energy Mission (Budget 2025-26).
3. **Secure minerals**: Drive the National Critical Mineral Mission (2025, ₹16,300 crore) through domestic auctions, KABIL's overseas blocks and recycling.
4. **Cut oil demand**: E20 blending, electric mobility and the National Green Hydrogen Mission (2023) replace imported fuels and save foreign exchange.

**Conclusion**

Energy drawn from India's own sun, wind, atom and minerals is both more secure and cleaner, turning the trilemma into a growth engine for Viksit Bharat 2047.

Explain the key challenges for India's energy security. What measures do you suggest for ensuring energy security along with economic growth and sustainability? (Answer in 250 words)

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