Circular economy, clean energy to be key drivers of next industrial revolution: Dr. Jitendra Singh
New Delhi, Sep 2 (IANS) Union Minister Dr. Jitendra Singh said on Wednesday that India must accelerate its transition to secure, clean, sustainable and self‑reliant energy systems amid geopolitical uncertainty and volatile markets.
Dr Singh was addressing the 6th International Climate Summit 2026 here, while he warned that energy security is inseparable from national security, strategic autonomy and economic resilience, the statement from the Ministry of Science & Technology said.
The Union Minister said that technological advancement and self-reliance are closely interlinked, and affordability is equally important for ensuring that the benefits of emerging technologies reach their full potential. The minister said that India would require affordable as well as clean sources of energy to derive maximum outcomes amidst emergence of an AI-driven data-centre era.
The minister said that India seeks to assume a greater global role, and hence has to keep pace with global trends and technological developments in the energy sector.
On the government’s approach of pursuing energy security through multiple pathways, Dr. Singh said that nuclear energy is a key area being pursued.
He highlighted the nuclear energy mission with a target of 100 GW by 2047, describing the opening up of the nuclear sector to private players as a significant development. An integrated approach and an enlarged resource pool would be necessary to meet the country’s ambitious energy targets.
The minister also referred to the aim of establishing five Small Modular Reactors by 2033, and the ongoing efforts in the green hydrogen sector, including the recently flagged-off green hydrogen train.
Dr. Singh emphasised that biofuels and the circular economy would form an important part of India’s clean-energy transition. He further mentioned that the next industrial revolution would be driven significantly by the circular economy and new technology pathways, including biofuels, ethanol and sustainable fuels.
The minister stressed that India’s growing requirements in sectors such as agriculture, health, irrigation, fertiliser and transport make it imperative to accelerate the pace of development and adoption of clean-energy technologies.
—IANS
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