Abstract

India stands today at a pivotal juncture in its energy transition. On the one hand, the country has made commendable progress toward building a greener economy—expanding renewable energy capacity, investing in green hydrogen, and setting ambitious net-zero targets. On the other hand, coal, a centuries-old energy mainstay, continues to dominate India’s power sector, accounting for more than 65% of electricity generation. Despite mounting international pressure for a global coal phase-out, India’s coal sector is not merely enduring—it is expanding, driven by deeply entrenched socio-economic dependencies.