India is gradually moving towards its ambitious climate goals, including 500 GW of non-fossil capacity by 2030 and net-zero emissions by 2070. However, as the transition accelerates, it must go beyond technological or economic shifts to be just and socially equitable. Given that 72% of India’s electricity is still generated from thermal sources, ensuring worker upliftment, community protection, and equity during the transition to clean energy becomes crucial.

The World Economic Forum’s Energy Transition Index (ETI) 2025 ranked India 71 out of 118 countries. The ETI 2025 highlights India’s achievements in energy transition, marked by declining energy intensity, reduced methane emissions, improved regulatory frameworks, and growing investments in renewable energy (RE) and clean fuels.

However, it also highlights persistent challenges in areas such as enhancing grid reliability, extending energy access to remote rural populations, and reducing dependence on imported energy.

Furthermore, the report cautions that India must address some crucial yet often overlooked issues, including labour market shifts, financing constraints, and the need for a socially inclusive transition that safeguards the livelihoods of communities dependent on fossil fuel economies.

In this article, we discuss key policy changes that India must adopt to ensure a just transition to clean energy.

1. Mandate state-level just transition roadmaps

Five Indian states, Chhattisgarh, Odisha, Jharkhand, Madhya Pradesh, and Maharashtra, account for over 70% of coal production and employment. Jharkhand became the first Indian state to establish a Just Transition Task Force in November 2022, covering coal transition, livelihood reskilling, energy diversification, green finance, and institutional design.

Its vision document outlines decade-wise roadmaps for transitioning across 13 coal-dependent districts. Chhattisgarh rolled out community energy initiatives (solar electrification in Bastar’s tribal villages) and piloted hydrogen trucking for cleaner mining operations at the district level. While these efforts are commendable, they are still limited to a few........

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