Government think tank releases 11 study reports detailing India's development pathway requiring $22 trillion investment with $6 trillion from external sources.
10 Feb 2026 | 243 Views | By Shristi Ohri
India's premier policy think tank NITI Aayog released the first set of comprehensive study reports on February 9, 2026, outlining scenarios for achieving Viksit Bharat (Developed India) by 2047 while meeting net zero emissions targets by 2070.
The release marks India's first government-led, multi-sectoral integrated assessment examining how the ...
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India's premier policy think tank NITI Aayog released the first set of comprehensive study reports on February 9, 2026, outlining scenarios for achieving Viksit Bharat (Developed India) by 2047 while meeting net zero emissions targets by 2070.
The release marks India's first government-led, multi-sectoral integrated assessment examining how the country can balance economic development with climate commitments. The study encompasses 11 reports developed through consultations with 10 inter-ministerial working groups covering sectors including power, transport, industry, buildings, and agriculture.
Three reports were unveiled at the Ambedkar International Centre in New Delhi, with the remaining eight scheduled for release on February 10. The studies analyze various scenarios considering historical trends, current policies, and additional measures needed for demand electrification, circularity, energy efficiency, and low-carbon technology development.
Key Findings
The reports project that India will require unprecedented capital mobilization of $22.7 trillion by 2070 under the Net Zero scenario, with a financing gap of approximately $6.5 trillion that must come from external sources. The study emphasizes the need for domestic financial reforms and stronger global capital integration.
B.V.R. Subrahmanyam, CEO of NITI Aayog, outlined a five-point strategy: electrifying energy use, greening electricity, controlling demand through Mission LiFE (Lifestyle for Environment), focusing on circularity and efficiency, and securing cheaper external finance. Notably, the reports indicate that India's coal consumption will continue rising until 2047 even as the country pursues its net zero goals.
"85% of India of 2047 is yet to be built and can be built to be climate friendly," Subrahmanyam stated, highlighting the opportunity for the country to leapfrog to global leadership in clean technologies.
Tanmay Kumar, Secretary of the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, emphasized that India would adhere to the principle of Common but Differentiated Responsibility while meeting its net zero objectives.
Policy Implications
The macroeconomic analysis examines implications for GDP growth, investment, trade, employment, and public finance. The reports also address climate-related risks to agriculture, infrastructure, and health, along with challenges posed by carbon-related trade barriers.
Vice Chairperson Suman Bery noted that as one of the world's largest economies by 2070, India must consider both domestic welfare and global impact. "India's own pathways will be influential for those to follow, particularly from the global south," he said.
Chief Economic Advisor V. Anantha Nageswaran described the exercise as a comprehensive benchmark that will serve as a starting point for future policy discussions on achieving both development and climate goals.
A panel discussion following the release, moderated by Nageswaran, featured experts including Dr. Kirit Parikh, Dr. Stéphane Hallegatte from the World Bank Group, and Prof. E. Somanathan from the Indian Statistical Institute.
The remaining eight reports are expected to provide detailed sectoral analyses and policy recommendations for India's twin objectives of economic development and environmental sustainability.