“Access to affordable, reliable, sustainable and modern energy is the sine qua non to achieve Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).” Comment on the progress made in India in this regard. (UPSC 2018)

Access to affordable, reliable, sustainable and modern energy is central to poverty reduction, health, education and climate action. India has made notable progress, but the transition remains uneven across access, affordability and quality.

• Strong gains in access: SDG 7 has become India’s best-performing goal, with the SDG score rising sharply and household electrification now near-universal.
• Cleaner cooking: PM Ujjwala has provided over 10 crore LPG connections, improving clean fuel access and reducing indoor air pollution, though refill affordability remains a concern.
• Renewable expansion: Non-fossil installed capacity has crossed 300 GW, and India has already met its 50% non-fossil capacity pledge ahead of time.
• Decentralised energy: Rooftop solar and PM-KUSUM are helping farmers and households save costs and improve energy security.

However, reliability gaps, grid integration issues, storage shortages and low consumption among poorer users show that access is still not fully sustainable or affordable. India has made strong progress, but universal, high-quality energy security needs deeper reforms in pricing, storage, and last-mile delivery.