Union Minister of State for Science and Technology, Dr Jitendra Singh, has emphasised the Green Hydrogen Mission as a pivotal component of India’s strategy to decarbonise heavy industries, transportation, and power generation. During a bilateral meeting on US-India Civil Nuclear Commerce, Dr Singh highlighted the mission’s crucial role in driving innovation in clean technologies and achieving global climate goals.
According to the Ministry of Science and Technology, Dr Singh stated that with robust policy frameworks and international partnerships, India is poised to lead the global transition to sustainable energy. This initiative is expected to position the nation at the forefront of clean energy solutions.
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In a significant announcement, Dr Singh revealed that an astronaut from India’s Gaganyaan Mission is set to join the International Space Station (ISS), marking a milestone in Indo-US space cooperation.
Further emphasising India’s commitment to advancing clean energy, Dr Singh discussed the government's efforts to pursue international collaborations, invest in research and development, and establish regulatory frameworks to support the deployment of Small Modular Reactors (SMRs). He pointed out that SMRs are vital for India’s clean energy transition, contributing significantly to energy self-reliance and climate commitments.
Drawing parallels between India’s “Anusandhan” National Research Foundation (NRF) and the United States’ National Science Foundation (NSF), Dr Singh highlighted the critical roles both organisations play in fostering scientific research and innovation. He reiterated India’s dedication to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s “Panchamrit” climate action plan, which aims to increase non-fossil energy capacity to 500 GW, reduce carbon emissions by 1 billion tonnes, and achieve net-zero emissions by 2070.
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Dr AK Sood, Principal Scientific Advisor to the Government of India, emphasised the significance of the Indo-US partnership, noting that it goes beyond knowledge exchange to include the joint development of solutions for future challenges. He highlighted the potential of this collaboration to pave new paths in sustainable development and economic growth.
Dr Ravi Chandran, Secretary of Earth Sciences, noted the advancements made in ocean energy and Carbon Capture, Utilisation, and Storage (CCUS) technologies. Meanwhile, Dr Rajesh Gokhale, Secretary of the Department of Biotechnology, discussed India’s progress in biomass-to-energy conversion and the successful deployment of biofuels.
Professor Abhay Karandikar addressed India’s achievements in emerging technologies like data analytics, artificial intelligence (AI), and machine learning, emphasising their strategic significance. Dr N Kalaiselvi, Director General of CSIR, underscored advancements in lithium-ion battery development and indigenous battery manufacturing, stressing the importance of sustainable and circular energy storage solutions.
The meeting, which featured a high-level US delegation led by John Podesta, Senior Advisor to the US President for International Climate Policy, and David Turk, Deputy Secretary of the US Department of Energy, concluded with both nations reaffirming their commitment to strengthening cooperation in emerging technologies. They highlighted shared interests in bolstering economic growth, national security, and global leadership in technological advancements.
