What Happened
- NITI Aayog released eleven study reports titled "Scenarios Towards Viksit Bharat and Net Zero" on 9-10 February 2026 at the Ambedkar International Centre, New Delhi
- The studies represent India's first government-led, multi-sectoral, integrated modelling exercise examining how India can achieve both Viksit Bharat (Developed India) by 2047 and Net Zero emissions by 2070
- The reports cover key domains: macroeconomic transition, power sector, transport, industry, buildings, agriculture, and critical minerals
- The study projects a total investment requirement of USD 22.7 trillion to achieve net zero by 2070, with a financing gap of USD 6.53 trillion
- Ten inter-ministerial working groups informed the scenario-based analytic modelling exercise
- The study examines two scenarios: Current Policy Scenario (CPS) and Net Zero Pathway, integrating economic growth, development priorities, and climate commitments
Static Topic Bridges
NITI Aayog — Structure, Mandate, and Role
NITI Aayog (National Institution for Transforming India) replaced the Planning Commission on 1 January 2015. Unlike the Planning Commission, which focused on centralised planning and fund allocation, NITI Aayog serves as a policy think tank providing directional and strategic inputs to the government. It has no power to impose policies or allocate funds to states.
- Established: 1 January 2015 by a Union Cabinet resolution (not by statute or constitutional provision)
- Chairperson: Prime Minister (ex-officio)
- Vice-Chairperson: Appointed by PM (equivalent to Cabinet Minister rank) — currently Suman Bery
- Governing Council: All Chief Ministers and Lt. Governors
- Full-time members: Experts appointed by PM
- Key roles: Long-term policy vision (15-year vision, 7-year strategy, 3-year action agenda), monitoring SDGs for states, fostering cooperative federalism, and policy research
- Does not allocate funds — Finance Commission and central ministries handle fiscal transfers
- Replaced the Planning Commission, which was established on 15 March 1950
Connection to this news: This study exemplifies NITI Aayog's role as a strategic planning body — conducting long-term scenario modelling across sectors to inform government policy on achieving simultaneously the Viksit Bharat 2047 vision and the Net Zero 2070 commitment.
India's Net Zero 2070 Commitment and Paris Agreement Framework
India committed to achieving net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2070 at COP26 in Glasgow (November 2021). This was part of the "Panchamrit" — five climate action pledges. India's climate commitments operate within the Paris Agreement framework, guided by the principle of Common but Differentiated Responsibilities and Respective Capabilities (CBDR-RC).
- Paris Agreement: Adopted at COP21 (2015); India ratified on 2 October 2016
- Net Zero 2070: Announced by PM Modi at COP26, Glasgow (November 2021) — India's long-term low-emission development strategy (LT-LEDS) submitted to UNFCCC in November 2022
- Panchamrit: (1) 500 GW non-fossil fuel capacity by 2030; (2) 50% electricity from renewables by 2030; (3) Reduce carbon emissions by 1 billion tonnes by 2030; (4) 45% reduction in carbon intensity by 2030 (from 2005 baseline); (5) Net Zero by 2070
- NDC updated August 2022: Incorporates Panchamrit targets
- CBDR-RC (UNFCCC Article 3): Developed countries must take the lead in climate action owing to their historical emissions responsibility
- India's per capita emissions: ~2.4 tonnes CO2 equivalent (2022) — well below global average (~6.3 tonnes) and US (~14.4 tonnes)
Connection to this news: The NITI Aayog study operationalises India's net-zero pledge by providing sector-wise pathways, investment estimates, and policy recommendations — converting the political commitment into actionable scenarios.
Climate Finance and Green Transition Investment
The scale of investment required for India's green transition is unprecedented. The NITI Aayog study quantifies this at USD 22.7 trillion through 2070, highlighting a significant financing gap that must be addressed through domestic policy reform and international climate finance mechanisms.
- Total investment for net zero: USD 22.7 trillion by 2070
- Power sector investment: USD 14.23 trillion (largest sectoral requirement)
- Transport sector: USD 4.3 trillion under net zero pathway (25% more than current policy pathway of USD 3.44 trillion)
- Financing gap: USD 6.53 trillion (total requirement minus estimated domestic flows of USD 16.2 trillion)
- Annual investment needed: Approximately USD 500 billion
- Global climate finance pledges: New Collective Quantified Goal (NCQG) of USD 300 billion/year by 2035, agreed at COP29 Baku (2024) — developing countries demanded USD 1.3 trillion
- Green bonds: India issued its first sovereign green bond in January 2023 (Rs 8,000 crore in the first tranche)
- India's Green Taxonomy: Under development to classify sustainable activities and guide investment
Connection to this news: The USD 6.53 trillion financing gap underscores India's argument at climate negotiations that developed countries must significantly scale up climate finance commitments to help developing nations transition.
Viksit Bharat 2047 — Development Vision
Viksit Bharat (Developed India) 2047 is the government's vision to transform India into a developed nation by the centenary of independence. The NITI Aayog study demonstrates that achieving Viksit Bharat and Net Zero simultaneously is feasible but requires strategic policy choices and massive investment.
- Vision: India to become a developed nation by 2047 (100 years of independence)
- GDP target: USD 30 trillion economy by 2047 (from approximately USD 3.7 trillion in 2024)
- Per capita income target: Over USD 18,000 by 2047
- Key pillars: Infrastructure development, manufacturing (Make in India), digital transformation, sustainable development, human capital
- NITI Aayog's role: Preparing the 15-year vision document, 7-year strategy, and 3-year action agenda aligned with Viksit Bharat
- The study's key finding: A "development-first" approach can achieve both economic growth and net-zero emissions — they are not mutually exclusive
Connection to this news: The 11 reports demonstrate that India need not choose between economic development and climate commitments — with the right investment (USD 22.7 trillion) and policy framework, both Viksit Bharat 2047 and Net Zero 2070 are achievable simultaneously.
Key Facts & Data
- Number of reports released: 11 (across 9-10 February 2026)
- Total net-zero investment: USD 22.7 trillion by 2070
- Financing gap: USD 6.53 trillion
- Power sector investment: USD 14.23 trillion
- Transport sector investment: USD 4.3 trillion (net zero pathway)
- Non-fossil fuel share in power generation: Projected to increase from 23% (2025) to 80-85% by 2070
- Coal demand: Projected to peak by 2050 at 1.83 billion tonnes before declining
- Steel, cement, aluminium demand: Set to increase 4-6 times by 2070
- India's per capita emissions: ~2.4 tonnes CO2 equivalent (well below global average of ~6.3 tonnes)
- NITI Aayog established: 1 January 2015 (replaced Planning Commission)