Daily Mains Question – GS 3 – 9th July 2025
- TPP
- Jul 9
- 4 min read
Welcome to your daily Mains Model Answer — designed to strengthen your command over Economic Development and Environmental Sustainability, key pillars of GS Paper 3. Today’s answer analyses the transformation of India’s energy production between 2013 and 2023, the factors driving this evolution, and the emerging slowdown in green energy productivity growth.
This topic intersects vital themes such as renewable energy expansion, energy efficiency, sectoral emissions, and economic-environmental trade-offs. It addresses India’s climate ambitions under the Paris Agreement, the imperative to decouple growth from emissions, and the challenges of equitable and efficient green energy deployment.
By exploring data-backed trends in energy consumption, productivity, and sectoral performance, aspirants gain critical insights into how India can balance high economic growth with low-carbon development. This model answer enhances analytical writing by combining factual precision with conceptual depth — essential for articulating sustainable solutions in UPSC Mains.
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QUESTION
How has India’s energy production evolved between 2013 and 2023? Identify the primary causes of the improvement and discuss why green energy productivity growth may be decreasing.
Answer: India’s ambition to become the world’s fourth-largest economy by 2025 hinges on sustaining high economic growth while addressing its rising energy demands and environmental sustainability. Energy consumption is intricately linked with economic expansion, and as India transitions towards a greener future, the focus is shifting to both expanding renewable energy capacity and ensuring energy is used efficiently.
Between 2013 and 2023, India has made significant strides in renewable energy generation. However, despite growth in green energy capacity, emerging trends suggest a slowdown in green energy productivity, raising concerns for policy planning and sustainable development.
Evolution of Energy Production (2013–2023):
India’s energy sector has seen notable transformations over the last decade:
Overall Energy Consumption:
Final energy use rose by 40%, from 379 EJ in 2013 to 531 EJ in 2023 (IEA, 2025).
Electricity consumption increased by 70% in the same period.
Energy-related CO₂ emissions increased by 5.3% in 2024, three times the global average of 0.8%.
Growth in Green Energy:
Renewable electricity (excluding hydro and nuclear) from wind, solar, biomass, and cogeneration bagasse grew by 267%.
In 2022–23, renewables accounted for over 20% of the total energy mix, up from 17% in 2013–14.
India ranks 4th globally in wind power and 5th in solar power capacity (MNRE data).
Shift in Installed Capacity:
India aims to achieve 50% non-fossil fuel-based power capacity by 2030.
Currently, around 80% of electricity generation still relies on fossil fuels.
Drivers of Improvement in Energy Output and Productivity:
Structural Economic Changes:
Movement from energy-intensive primary sectors to less energy-intensive tertiary sectors.
Increased contribution from services and digital sectors has helped moderate energy growth.
Policy Initiatives and Regulatory Frameworks:
Perform, Achieve, and Trade (PAT) Scheme encouraged industrial efficiency, particularly in sectors like steel, cement, and chemicals.
Faster approvals, renewable purchase obligations (RPOs), and auction-based tariffs attracted private investment into renewables.
Technological Advancements:
Falling costs of solar photovoltaic (PV) panels and wind turbines.
Introduction of grid-scale energy storage systems and improved transmission infrastructure.
Increased Economic Output:
India’s gross output rose by 79% between 2013 and 2023.
Energy productivity improved by 28%, i.e., more economic value is being generated per unit of energy consumed.
Emerging Challenge: Declining Green Energy Productivity
Despite capacity expansion, green energy productivity growth is facing headwinds. Key reasons include:
Sectoral Imbalances:
Gains in industrial sectors contrast with stagnant or declining efficiency in transportation and agriculture.
These sectors have high energy use but lower output per energy unit, pulling down overall productivity.
Grid Integration and Infrastructure Bottlenecks:
Intermittency of solar and wind power poses integration challenges.
Delays in transmission infrastructure upgrades and energy storage solutions reduce the effective utilisation of renewable energy.
Misalignment of Energy and Economic Classifications:
Discrepancies in energy and economic data (e.g., MOSPI energy balance vs. national accounts) hinder accurate mapping of sectoral performance.
This complexity affects policymaking and tracking progress across segments.
Overemphasis on Capacity Expansion:
Focus on megawatts added rather than how efficiently that energy is used.
Energy supply outpacing demand in some sectors leads to underutilisation, especially in green power during off-peak times.
Implications and the Way Forward:
Reframing Energy Policy Priorities:
Beyond increasing renewable capacity, India must prioritise efficient utilisation.
Energy productivity, rather than just consumption or installed capacity, should be a key performance indicator.
Targeted Sectoral Interventions:
Expand schemes like PAT to lagging sectors such as transport (e.g., fuel efficiency norms, electrification) and agriculture (e.g., solar pumps, efficient irrigation).
Strengthen Data Systems and Integration:
Develop a unified energy accounting framework to enable real-time policy evaluation.
Link energy usage more accurately with GDP output across sectors.
Technology and Grid Modernisation:
Invest in smart grids, energy storage, and forecasting systems to manage variability.
Encourage decentralised renewable energy systems to enhance localised productivity.
Policy Innovation and Market Instruments:
Introduce green energy productivity-linked incentives.
Create market-based tools to reward efficient green energy usage.
India’s progress in scaling renewable energy between 2013 and 2023 is commendable, positioning it as a global leader in clean energy deployment. However, the deceleration in green energy productivity reveals a structural gap between energy expansion and energy efficiency. As India aspires for rapid, inclusive, and low-carbon growth, energy productivity must emerge as the cornerstone of energy policy. A focus on not just ‘more energy’, but ‘better energy use’ will be crucial to balance developmental goals with sustainability imperatives.
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Well explained