Union Textiles Minister Giriraj Singh on Saturday, 18 July 2026 shared his appreciation for Prime Minister Narendra Modi's flagging off of India's first hydrogen-powered train at Jind, Haryana, calling the moment historic and praising the Make in India initiative that made it possible.

Context

Sharing coverage of the event, Giriraj Singh highlighted the headline 'Jind ne racha itihas' ('Jind etched in history') as Prime Minister Modi flagged off what has been described as India's first hydrogen-powered train. The minister's post underscored the government's framing of the launch as a landmark moment in Indian rail and manufacturing history.

The train's flagging off at Jind — a city in the central Haryana district of the same name — places the town at the centre of a milestone in India's green mobility journey. Indian Railways, the state-owned operator of the national rail network, has been progressively introducing indigenous rolling stock as part of a broader push toward self-reliance and decarbonisation.

Policy Backdrop

The Make in India initiative, launched by the Government of India in September 2014, was designed to encourage domestic manufacturing and reduce the country's dependence on imports. The hydrogen train's indigenous development is being positioned as a direct product of that decade-long policy push.

India's pursuit of green hydrogen in transport is also aligned with the National Green Hydrogen Mission, which aims to position the country as a global hub for green hydrogen production and use. Indian Railways has long been identified as a key sector where alternative propulsion technologies could significantly cut carbon emissions, given the network's scale and reach.

Since 2014, the government has run parallel tracks of manufacturing self-reliance and transport decarbonisation, with milestones including indigenous locomotive production, the rollout of the Vande Bharat Express series, and now the entry of hydrogen propulsion into the national fleet.

Stakeholders and Impact

The launch carries significance for a wide range of stakeholders. Rail passengers stand to benefit from cleaner, quieter hydrogen-powered travel, while domestic manufacturing firms involved in rolling stock, fuel cells, and hydrogen supply chains are expected to gain from expanded orders and technology development opportunities.

Jind itself, a district headquarters in Haryana, gains visibility as the site of a nationally significant inauguration. The event is likely to boost local sentiment ahead of any upcoming political activity in the state, though the minister's post focused squarely on the national policy achievement rather than local politics.

For the broader Make in India programme, the hydrogen train represents a high-visibility proof point that domestic capability has advanced into frontier green technologies — a narrative the ruling BJP has consistently sought to amplify.

What's Next

Attention will now turn to the pace of further rollout of hydrogen trains across the Indian Railways network and the scaling up of hydrogen fuelling infrastructure at stations. Progress reports under the National Green Hydrogen Mission will be closely watched by industry and environmental observers alike.

Senior ministers across portfolios, including Giriraj Singh, are expected to continue amplifying the hydrogen train milestone as part of the government's broader communication around manufacturing self-reliance and green growth ahead of future electoral cycles.