India Unveils R&D Roadmap for Carbon Capture to Meet Net-Zero Goals

India has introduced a national R&D roadmap to advance Carbon Capture, Utilisation and Storage (CCUS) technologies, positioning them as critical tools for achieving the country’s 2070 net-zero target. The initiative aims to drive coordinated research, investment and deployment across industries with high emissions.

A Strategic Push for Hard-to-Abate Sectors

The roadmap focuses on sectors such as cement, power and steel—areas where emissions are difficult to reduce with conventional methods. By promoting CCUS, India aims to develop scalable solutions that can extract, utilise or store carbon dioxide generated from industrial and energy systems.

Government Funding and Institutional Support

Launched by the Principal Scientific Adviser Ajay Kumar Sood, the initiative will draw from the government’s ₹1 lakh crore Research, Development and Innovation funding pathways. This support is expected to accelerate breakthroughs and reduce technology-deployment timelines. Earlier this year, the government also announced five CCU testbeds in the cement sector to create a research cluster for industrial decarbonisation.

How CCUS Works and Global Debate

CCUS includes processes that separate CO₂, compress and transport it, and inject it into geological formations for permanent storage. Alternatively, captured CO₂ may be reused as feedstock for industrial products. While CCUS is widely viewed as essential for net-zero transitions, some experts warn it may prolong fossil fuel dependence and add greenhouse emissions if not deployed carefully.

Exam Oriented Facts

• India launched its first national CCUS R&D roadmap in 2025.
• The initiative supports the 2070 net-zero emissions target.
• ₹1 lakh crore RDI funding will accelerate CCUS technologies.
• Five CCU testbeds were created earlier in the cement sector.

Building Capacity and Infrastructure

The roadmap emphasises creating skilled talent, regulatory standards and shared infrastructure to scale CCUS solutions. As countries including the US, EU and China pursue similar technologies, India’s coordinated approach aims to strengthen its long-term decarbonisation pathway and support industrial competitiveness in a low-carbon future.