NITI Aayog Report on Viksit Bharat and Net Zero: India’s Path to USD 30 Trillion Economy by 2047

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The NITI Aayog has released a comprehensive set of 11 reports titled “Scenarios Towards Viksit Bharat and Net Zero.” These reports provide a long-term roadmap for India to become a developed nation by 2047 with a USD 30 trillion economy, while achieving Net Zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2070.

Prepared by ten Inter-Ministerial Working Groups, the studies integrate economic growth, energy transition, employment generation, and environmental sustainability into a single national vision. They represent one of India’s most detailed policy exercises on balancing development with climate responsibility.

Scenarios Towards Viksit Bharat and Net Zero: Background and Significance

India faces the dual challenge of sustaining rapid economic growth and fulfilling its international climate commitments. The NITI Aayog reports examine multiple future scenarios to understand how policies, investments, and technologies can support this transition.

The core objectives are:

Achieving “Viksit Bharat” status by 2047
Reducing dependence on fossil fuels
Creating large-scale green employment
Ensuring social and regional equity
Building climate-resilient infrastructure

These reports serve as a guiding framework for ministries, states, and private investors.

What Are the Reports About?

The reports assess how India can balance rapid economic growth and climate responsibility — ensuring development and sustainability go hand in hand under multiple scenarios, including “Current Policies” and an ambitious Net Zero Scenario.

The overarching objective:

Viksit Bharat by 2047 — a developed nation with a robust, investment-driven economy.
Net Zero by 2070 — zero net GHG emissions while supporting equitable development

Key Highlights of the Reports

Economic and Social Transformation

Shift in Growth Pattern

Under the Net Zero scenario, India’s GDP is projected to rise from about USD 4.18 trillion in 2025 to nearly USD 30 trillion by 2047. The structure of the economy is expected to change from consumption-led growth to investment-driven growth.

This implies:

Higher capital formation
Increased infrastructure spending
Greater role of private and foreign investment

Employment and Urbanisation

The transition is expected to generate millions of green jobs in renewable energy, electric mobility, construction, and sustainable manufacturing.

At the same time:

Urban population may rise to over 50% by 2047
Cities will face higher demand for housing, transport, cooling, and energy
Over 150 fossil-fuel-dependent districts will need restructuring

This makes social protection and reskilling essential.

Energy Transition and Decarbonisation Pathway

Electrification and Power Sector

Electrification is central to India’s Net Zero pathway. Electricity’s share in final energy demand is expected to rise from about 21% in 2025 to nearly 60% by 2070.

Major drivers include:

Electric vehicles
Induction cooking
Industrial heat pumps
Digitalised manufacturing

Expansion of Clean Energy

The reports project massive growth in clean energy:

Renewable capacity may exceed 6,000 GW by 2070
Nuclear power may rise to over 300 GW
Fossil fuels may decline to around 14% of the energy mix

Residual fossil fuel use will rely on Carbon Capture, Utilisation, and Storage (CCUS).

By 2070, grid emissions are expected to fall close to zero.

Infrastructure and Consumption Trends

Buildings and Cooling

About 86% of the building stock that will exist in 2070 is yet to be constructed. This creates both opportunity and risk.

Without strict efficiency standards:

Energy demand may rise sharply
Air conditioner penetration may reach 80%
Carbon “lock-in” may occur

Hence, energy-efficient and climate-resilient buildings are crucial.

Transport and Mobility

Vehicle ownership is expected to rise significantly. However, the reports emphasise that simply shifting to electric cars is insufficient.

Priority areas include:

Public transport
Rail-based freight
Non-motorised mobility
Transit-Oriented Development (TOD)

Critical Minerals and Resource Security

The clean energy transition shifts energy security risks from fuel supply to mineral supply.

Demand for critical energy transition minerals such as lithium, cobalt, nickel, copper, and graphite is expected to rise sharply.

Key concerns include:

Near-total import dependence
Limited refining capacity
Geopolitical risks

India must therefore focus on domestic exploration, overseas mining assets, and recycling-based circular economy models.

Financial Requirements and Investment Gap

Scale of Investment

The Net Zero pathway requires cumulative investment of around USD 22.7 trillion by 2070, or nearly USD 500 billion per year. Currently, annual investment is around USD 135 billion.

Financing Challenges

Even with domestic reforms, a financing gap of about USD 6.5 trillion remains.

To bridge this gap:

Foreign capital inflows must increase
Blended finance models are needed
Concessional climate finance must expand

This makes climate finance architecture a critical pillar of transition.

Major Challenges Identified

Technical and Structural Barriers

Scaling technologies such as CCUS and Long-duration Energy Storage remains a challenge due to nascent deployment at commercial scale.
Energy transition could strain domestic liquidity as consumption share in GDP declines and investment rises, requiring foreign finance to bridge gaps.
India’s coal consumption is projected to rise until 2047 even under transition, highlighting transitional complexities.

Social and Environmental Risks

Water stress is a risk as renewable hubs cluster in water-scarce states, complicating green tech deployment.ions and a victim of climate change. Reducing emissions without harming farmer livelihoods remains a major policy challenge.
Rapid urbanisation (over 65% by 2070) increases housing, transport, cooling and energy demand.
Land-use conflicts may arise due to renewable expansion competing with agriculture and ecology.

Policy Measures to Strengthen the Transition

Behavioural and Regulatory Reforms

Strengthen Mission LiFE for sustainable behaviour
Enforce Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) for circularity
Integrate climate goals into urban, transport and industrial planning

Infrastructure & Technology

Promote Transit-Oriented Development (TOD) and efficient freight systems
Mandate Net Zero-ready buildings with passive design standards
Support R&D in clean technologies and encourage green certification

Finance & Institutional Support

Establish a National Green Finance Institution
Develop unified climate finance taxonomies
Align Centre-State budgets with climate targets

Towards an Indian Development Model

NITI Aayog views India’s climate transition as a development opportunity rather than a constraint. By integrating growth with sustainability, India can create a unique development model suitable for emerging economies.

This model can combine:

Economic vitality
Environmental responsibility
Social inclusion
Technological leadership

If implemented effectively, it can serve as a reference for the Global South.

Conclusion

NITI Aayog’s “Scenarios Towards Viksit Bharat and Net Zero” outlines a transformative developmental model where economic growth and climate action reinforce each other. Achieving a USD 30 trillion economy by 2047 and Net Zero emissions by 2070 requires policy vision, finance mobilisation, technology adoption, and social inclusion — but offers a sustainable, resilient and equitable future for India and a potential model for the Global South.

Explanation of Key Schemes and Initiatives

Mission LiFE (Lifestyle for Environment)

Mission LiFE promotes sustainable lifestyle choices such as:

Using public transport
Saving electricity and water
Reducing waste
Choosing energy-efficient appliances

Its objective is to moderate demand through behavioural change, complementing technological solutions.

Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR)

EPR makes producers responsible for the collection, recycling, and disposal of their products, especially in sectors like plastics, electronics, and batteries.

It aims to:

Reduce waste
Promote recycling
Encourage circular economy

KABIL (Khanij Bidesh India Limited)

KABIL is a joint venture for acquiring overseas mineral assets. It helps India secure lithium, cobalt, and other strategic minerals needed for clean technologies.

District Mineral Foundation (DMF)

DMF funds are collected from mining companies and used for the welfare of mining-affected areas. They can support reskilling and social protection in coal-dependent districts.

e-Shram Portal

The e-Shram portal maintains a database of unorganised workers. It can help link fossil-sector workers to new green jobs and welfare schemes.

Skill India Mission

This programme focuses on large-scale skill development. Under the Net Zero transition, it is vital for training workers in renewable energy, EV maintenance, and green construction.

Summary

NITI Aayog’s “Scenarios Towards Viksit Bharat and Net Zero” reports present a long-term vision for transforming India into a developed and climate-resilient economy. The roadmap focuses on electrification, renewable and nuclear expansion, green jobs, behavioural change, and sustainable urbanisation. While major challenges such as financing gaps, mineral dependence, and social transition remain, strategic reforms, institutional strengthening, and inclusive policies can convert climate action into a developmental opportunity.

Exam-Oriented Facts

NITI Aayog released 11 reports on “Scenarios Towards Viksit Bharat and Net Zero.”
Target economy size: USD 30 trillion by 2047.
Net Zero target year: 2070.
Renewable capacity may exceed 6,000 GW by 2070.
Nuclear capacity may rise above 300 GW.
Required investment: USD 22.7 trillion.
Annual investment need: Around USD 500 billion.
Financing gap: About USD 6.5 trillion.
Over 150 districts depend on fossil fuel industries.
Electricity share in energy demand may reach 60%.
AC penetration may reach 80% by 2070.
EV batteries and solar drive most critical mineral demand.