Content

1. Unlocking India’s Green Hydrogen Production Potential
2. From 2 to 597

Unlocking India’s Green Hydrogen Production Potential

Why in News ?

• India commissioned its first port-based Green Hydrogen Pilot Project at V.O. Chidambaranar Port, Tamil Nadu.
• Three ports — Deendayal, Paradip, and V.O. Chidambaranar — declared Green Hydrogen Hubs (MNRE, Oct 2025).
• Targets:
  • 5 MMT Green Hydrogen production by 2030
  • ₹8 lakh crore investment
  • 125 GW renewable energy addition
  • 6 lakh jobs
  • ₹1 lakh crore import reduction
  • 50 MMT CO₂ emissions avoided annually

Relevance : GS 3 – Environment, Energy, Infrastructure

• Renewable energy transition & Net Zero 2070 goals.
• National Green Hydrogen Mission (₹19,744 crore) – decarbonising industry, transport, shipping.
• Port-based hydrogen hubs (Deendayal, Paradip, Tuticorin).
• R&D under SHIP with BARC, ISRO, IITs for indigenous tech.
• ₹8 lakh crore investment, 6 lakh jobs, 50 MMT CO₂ reduction.
• Strategic exports to Japan, Korea, EU – energy security & Atmanirbharta.

Understanding Green Hydrogen

Definition (India Standard 2023):

• Hydrogen qualifies as green if lifecycle emissions ≤ 2 kg CO₂-e/kg H₂.
• National Green Hydrogen Mission (NGHM) – Overview
• Launched: January 2023
  Outlay: ₹19,744 crore (FY 2023–30)

Mission Objectives

• Make India a global hub for Green Hydrogen production, use, and export.
• Achieve energy self-reliance (Atmanirbharta) by reducing fossil imports.
• Enable industrial decarbonisation in hard-to-abate sectors: steel, fertilizer, refining.
• Create new green jobs and boost domestic manufacturing.

Mission Architecture

Sectoral Implementation

(A) Industrial Sector

• Fertilizers: 7.24 LMT green ammonia procurement auctioned (₹55.75/kg).
• Steel: 5 pilot projects with PSUs & private firms to test hydrogen-based iron reduction.
• Refineries: Gradual substitution of grey hydrogen with green hydrogen.

(B) Mobility & Transport

• Road Transport: 37 hydrogen-powered vehicles (15 fuel-cell, 22 ICE) across 10 routes; ₹208 crore support.
• High-Altitude Mobility: NTPC’s Leh hydrogen project (3,650 m altitude) — world’s highest; reduces 350 MT CO₂/year.
• Shipping:
  • Tuticorin Pilot (2025): 10 Nm³/hr H₂ plant + EV charging from hydrogen.
  • Green Methanol Bunkering: ₹42 crore project to create Coastal Green Shipping Corridor (Kandla–Tuticorin).

Policy and Regulatory Framework

Strategic Hydrogen Innovation Partnership (SHIP)

• Public–Private R&D platform to co-develop advanced hydrogen technologies.
• Collaboration with BARC, ISRO, CSIR, IITs, IISc.
• ₹400 crore R&D Fund + ₹100 crore Start-up Grant Call (2025) (up to ₹5 crore/project).
• 30+ joint projects under EU–India TTC for hydrogen from waste.

Enabling Frameworks

• Infrastructure: Storage, pipelines, refueling network, port-based hubs.
• Finance: Viability gap funding, PLI-style incentives under SIGHT.
• Skill Ecosystem: Workforce development, IIT-based training centres.
• Policy De-risking: Clear open access, faster approvals, and land allocation for renewable energy zones.

Global Partnerships

Expected Outcomes by 2030

Challenges

• High Production Cost: $3–6/kg (target <$1/kg by 2030).
• Electrolyser Dependency: 80% currently imported (mainly China & EU).
• Water Use: 9 litres per kg H₂ – stress in arid zones.
• Infrastructure Gap: Storage, pipelines, safety standards still evolving.
• Technology Maturity: Need for R&D in solid oxide, PEM, and AEM electrolysers.

Way Forward

• Domestic Manufacturing Push: Scale up electrolyser production via SIGHT.
• Hybrid RE Parks: Dedicated solar-wind clusters for H₂ generation.
• Green Hydrogen Corridors: Industrial and mobility linkages (refineries–fertilizer–ports).
• Export Strategy: Leverage India’s geographic proximity to Japan, Korea, and EU.
• R&D Acceleration: Advance hydrogen carriers (ammonia, methanol), storage materials, and safety systems.
• Policy Synchronisation: MNRE–MoP–MoPNG coordination under single-window mechanism.

Key Facts

• Nodal Ministry: Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE)
• Implementing Agency: Solar Energy Corporation of India (SECI)
• Certification Body: Bureau of Energy Efficiency (BEE)
• Ports Declared Hydrogen Hubs: Deendayal, Paradip, V.O. Chidambaranar
• First Port-Based Hydrogen Pilot: Tuticorin, 2025
• World’s Highest H₂ Project: NTPC Leh (3,650 m)
• Emission Limit for ‘Green’ Tag: ≤2 kg CO₂-e/kg H₂

Conclusion

• India’s Green Hydrogen Mission exemplifies “Clean Growth for Self-Reliance.”
• It intertwines climate ambition (Net Zero 2070) with industrial competitiveness and strategic energy security.
• By integrating policy, technology, investment, and global partnerships, India aims to become the third-largest green hydrogen hub globally, driving the global shift toward decarbonised economies.

From 2 to 597

Why in News ?

• Record achievement: 597 students from Eklavya Model Residential Schools (EMRS) cleared India’s toughest competitive exams — JEE Main, JEE Advanced, and NEET (2024–25).
• Massive rise from just 2 students in 2022–23 → 597 in 2024–25, showing transformative success of the EMRS initiative under the Ministry of Tribal Affairs.
• 101 out of 230 EMRSs offering Class 12 produced successful candidates.
• Reflects impact of focused educational interventions for Scheduled Tribe (ST) youth.

Relevance : GS 2 – Governance, Education, Social Justice

• EMRS expansion (722 sanctioned, 485 functional) under Ministry of Tribal Affairs.
• Operationalisation of Articles 46 & 275(1) – education for ST welfare.
• NESTS-led coaching & digital learning → 597 students cleared JEE/NEET (2025).
• Promotes gender empowerment, social mobility, and inclusive growth.
• Aligns with NEP 2020 and shifts from welfare to capability-based education.

What are EMRS Schools?

Performance Surge (2022–25)

→ Growth: ~30× in 3 years, driven by structured coaching and digital learning interventions.

State-wise Achievements (2024–25)

• Top States in JEE (Main + Advanced):
  • Telangana (70), Madhya Pradesh (61), Gujarat (40)
• Top States in NEET:
  • Gujarat (173), Madhya Pradesh (115), Chhattisgarh (18)
• Representation from 12 States shows expansion beyond traditional tribal belts.

Human Stories of Transformation

• Jatin Negi (Himachal Pradesh):
  • From Sangla village, cleared JEE Advanced (AIR 421) → B.Tech, IIT Jodhpur.
  • Overcame power cuts, isolation, and personal loss — testament to resilience + institutional mentorship.
• Padvi Urjasviben (Gujarat):
  • Cleared NEET (AIR 11,926) → MBBS, GMERS Medical College, Junagadh.
  • Broke gender stereotypes in tribal Gujarat village; symbol of educational empowerment of tribal girls.

Constitutional & Legal Foundations

Significance:
EMRS is a direct operationalization of Article 46 and 275(1) — combining affirmative action with institutional capacity building.

Administrative Mechanism

National Education Society for Tribal Students (NESTS)

• Autonomous body under Ministry of Tribal Affairs.
• Implements EMRS in coordination with State EMRS Societies.
• Ensures standardized pedagogy, teacher training, digital infrastructure, and exam readiness.

Targeted Academic Support Initiatives (Under NESTS)

Governance & Financials

Policy Impact

• Bridging Educational Divide: Rural–urban and social gaps narrowed in access to elite institutions (IITs, AIIMS, etc.).
• Women’s Empowerment: Increasing participation of tribal girls in STEM and medicine.
• Social Mobility: First-generation learners entering India’s top institutions.
• Localized Development: Schools located in or near tribal belts — reducing dropout and migration.
• Nation-building Impact: From welfare model to capability model — aligning with “Sabka Vikas, Sabka Vishwas”.

Challenges

• Faculty Shortage: Remote postings lead to uneven teacher distribution.
• Regional Disparities: Some NE states lag in EMRS functioning.
• Language Barriers: Medium of instruction transition (tribal → English/CBSE) remains difficult.
• Limited Awareness: Families often unaware of opportunities beyond Class 10–12.
• Infrastructure Gaps: Connectivity and digital access in high-altitude or forest regions.

Way Forward

• Teacher Capacity Building: Incentivize postings + digital mentorship network.
• Outcome-Based Monitoring: Annual JEE/NEET/CBSE tracking via NESTS dashboard.
• Localized Coaching Partnerships: Expand NGOs & EdTech tie-ups for exam prep.
• Gender-Focused Support: Scholarship schemes for tribal girls in STEM.
• Integration with NEP 2020: Introduce multidisciplinary learning & regional language modules.
• Career Continuity: Create EMRS Alumni Network & mentorship with IIT/NIT/STEM graduates.

Key Facts

• EMRS Scheme: Started 1997–98; major expansion in Union Budget 2018–19.
• Target Coverage: Every block with >50% ST population & ≥20,000 tribal persons.
• Funding Source: Grants under Article 275(1) of the Constitution.
• Nodal Agency: Ministry of Tribal Affairs via NESTS.
• Education Board: CBSE.
• Current Functional Schools: 485 (as of July 2025).
• Top-performing State (2025): Gujarat (173 NEET qualifiers).
• First-time achievement: EMRS students now in IITs, AIIMS, and top NITs.

Conclusion

• The success of EMRS students — from 2 to 597 achievers in just three years — represents a quiet revolution in tribal education.
• It marks a shift from access to excellence, proving that when constitutional intent (Articles 46 & 275) meets institutional innovation (EMRS & NESTS), social equity becomes achievable.
• EMRS has evolved from a welfare instrument to a platform for empowerment, setting the foundation for inclusive nation-building through education.