Energy: India Marching Towards Self-Reliance

ABSTRACT India is making considerable progress towards achieving technological self-reliance and strengthening its resilience. The energy sector has played a vital role in industrial growth over the past century, providing the essential fuel that supports and drives broader economic activity. Natural energy resources are generally divided into two categories, renewable and non-renewable. Renewable energy sources, such as solar, hydro, and wind power, are naturally replenished over relatively short periods. In contrast, non-renewable energy sources, like fossil fuels including coal and petroleum, are finite and cannot be replenished within human timescales. Renewable energy is viewed as sustainable and is associated with a significantly lower environmental impact compared to non-renewable options. Due to the depletion of non-renewable resources and their associated environmental consequences, there is a growing need to rely more heavily on renewable energy sources to meet future energy demands. Solar power output has increased significantly over the past decade due to technological advancements, decreasing costs, and large-scale installations. This has led to a substantial increase in both global and national investments in renewable energy.