India targets 5 MMT green hydrogen output by 2030, ₹8 lakh crore investment expected
Synopsis
Key Takeaways
India has set an ambitious target of developing 5 million metric tonnes (MMT) of annual green hydrogen production capacity by 2030, according to an official factsheet released on Wednesday, 28 October 2026. The milestone is central to the National Green Hydrogen Mission, which aims to reduce dependence on imported fossil fuels and strengthen the country's long-term energy security.
Scale of the Mission
The National Green Hydrogen Mission is projected to mobilise over ₹8 lakh crore in investments and generate more than 6 lakh jobs across manufacturing, infrastructure, research, and project development. The Mission is also expected to cut cumulative fossil fuel imports by approximately ₹1 lakh crore by 2030, according to the factsheet. Achieving the 5 MMT production target could additionally help avert nearly 50 MMT of carbon dioxide emissions annually.
State-Level Policy Push
Six states have already notified dedicated green hydrogen policies to complement the national framework — Gujarat, Andhra Pradesh, Maharashtra, Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, and West Bengal. Four more states — Haryana, Punjab, Bihar, and Kerala — are currently finalising their draft policies. An additional seven states, including Himachal Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Odisha, Telangana, and Chhattisgarh, have integrated hydrogen into existing industrial and renewable energy policy frameworks.
International Partnerships
The Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE), directly or through the National Institute of Solar Energy, has signed MoUs, Letters of Intent, or Joint Declarations of Intent with Australia, Finland, France, Germany, Saudi Arabia, the UAE, and Uzbekistan. A separate MoU on renewable energy has been signed with the Netherlands. An India–US Hydrogen Task Force has also been constituted under the Strategic Clean Energy Partnership, with green hydrogen designated as a priority area under the India–US New and Emerging Renewable Energy Technology Action Platform (RETAP).
Certification and Compliance
The MNRE launched the Green Hydrogen Certification Scheme of India in April 2025, with the Bureau of Energy Efficiency (BEE) accrediting agencies for monitoring, verification, and certification. A dedicated compliance portal went live in June 2026 to enable transparent certification. Credible certification infrastructure is seen as critical for positioning Indian producers to compete in global export markets with confidence.
Broader Vision
Through the Mission, the government aims to accelerate industrial decarbonisation, strengthen domestic manufacturing, and establish India as a global hub for green hydrogen production, use, and exports. These efforts feed into India's broader Viksit Bharat by 2047 vision and its commitment to achieving net-zero emissions by 2070. With global demand for clean energy carriers rising, India's early mover investments in certification, state policy, and international partnerships could prove decisive in securing export orders and attracting long-term capital.