India today is a key part of global transition to a self-reliant hydrogen economy, Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Science and Technology, Dr. Jitendra Singh said while addressing the 3rd International Conference on Green Hydrogen (ICGH–2025) at Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi.

The Minister underscored that clean energy is no longer a matter of environmental choice, but an “economic, technological, and strategic imperative” for the nation’s growth.

Dr. Jitendra Singh said that India’s clean energy transformation is being driven by a collaborative model bringing together government, industry, and academia to build sustainable solutions for the future. “India will not merely adopt clean technologies — we will invent them, lead them, and ignite the world with our vision and grit,” he said, calling the hydrogen economy a key pillar of India’s energy security and industrial competitiveness.

Organized by the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) and the Office of the Principal Scientific Adviser, in association with the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas (MoPNG), Department of Science and Technology (DST), and Department of Scientific and Industrial Research (DSIR), the two-day conference brought together policymakers, scientists, researchers, and industry leaders to chart the course for India’s green hydrogen transition.

Highlighting key initiatives, Dr. Jitendra Singh announced that four Hydrogen Valleys are being developed across the country to demonstrate the full hydrogen value chain — from production and storage to transport and utilization — with a total investment of ₹485 crore. Of this, ₹169.89 crore has been allocated under the National Green Hydrogen Mission (NGHM), while ₹315.43 crore will come from industry and consortium partners.

These Hydrogen Valley Innovation Clusters (HVICs), conceptualized by DST and now integrated under MNRE’s NGHM, are designed to showcase India’s first large-scale hydrogen demonstration projects and serve as living laboratories for innovation, standardization, and policy development, said the Minister.

The Minister also drew attention to the recently launched Research, Development and Innovation (RDI) Scheme by Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi on November 3, 2025, describing it as a “historic step to bridge discovery and deployment.” With a corpus of ₹1 lakh crore and an allocation of ₹20,000 crore for the Department of Science and Technology, the scheme aims to strengthen deep-tech and clean energy innovation while encouraging active participation from startups and industry. Dr. Jitendra Singh said the initiative represents a shift from government-driven funding to a more collaborative, sustainable model that ensures long-term scientific and economic resilience.

Dr Jitendra Singh highlighted the establishment of the Anusandhan National Research Foundation (ANRF) as a landmark reform to integrate academia, industry, and government under one mission-oriented framework. The Foundation, he said, will align India’s scientific capabilities with national priorities in clean energy, advanced manufacturing, and sustainability.

Citing the Mission for Advancement in High-Impact Areas – Electric Vehicle (MAHA–EV), Dr. Jitendra Singh noted that the initiative reflects India’s Atmanirbhar Bharat spirit by promoting indigenous innovation in electric mobility and hydrogen fuel technologies. The mission brings together public research institutions and private partners to develop advanced batteries, fuel cells, and scalable charging infrastructure suited to Indian conditions.

Emphasizing India’s global leadership in clean energy collaboration, Dr. Jitendra Singh reminded the audience that the term “Mission Innovation” was first coined by Prime Minister Modi. Under Mission Innovation 2.0, India is working with international partners to reduce the cost of clean hydrogen to USD 2 per kilogram and to replicate its Hydrogen Valley model globally by 2030. “India’s leadership in this mission demonstrates how science, innovation, and enterprise are converging to power a clean and secure tomorrow,” he said.

The Minister lauded the whole-of-government and whole-of-nation approach that has made the Green Hydrogen Mission a model of inter-ministerial collaboration. He commended MNRE, the Office of the Principal Scientific Adviser, MoPNG, DST, and DSIR for jointly organizing the conference and fostering dialogue across sectors.

Concluding his address, Dr. Jitendra Singh said that a self-reliant hydrogen economy will be a cornerstone of India’s journey toward Viksit Bharat 2047. “Through innovation, collaboration, and collective resolve, we are creating a role model for the world,” he stated, urging all stakeholders to work together to realize India’s clean energy ambitions.

The conference also saw participation from Shri Shripad Y. Naik, Minister of State for New and Renewable Energy; Mr. Abhay Bakre, Mission Director, National Green Hydrogen Mission; Mr. Vineet Mittal, Chairman, Avaada Group; and Mr. Akash Tripathi, Managing Director, Solar Energy Corporation of India, among others.

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