Maarg Manthan · Topic 12.4

National Green Hydrogen Mission

Current Affairs & Government Schemes › Energy and Renewable Energy Schemes · Topic 12.4

The National Green Hydrogen Mission is a Central mission of the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy, approved by the Union Cabinet on 4 January 2023 with an initial outlay of Rs 19,744 crore, to make India a global hub for the production, use and export of green hydrogen. Green hydrogen is made by splitting water with renewable electricity. The mission targets at least 5 million metric tonnes a year of production capacity by 2030, about 125 GW of linked renewable capacity, over Rs 8 lakh crore of investment and a cut of nearly 50 million tonnes in yearly emissions. Its main tool is the SIGHT programme.

6 min read · UPSC Prelims · Current Affairs & Government Schemes · Energy and Renewable Energy Schemes

At a Glance

Approved 4 January 2023
Ministry New and Renewable Energy
Outlay Rs 19,744 crore
Target 5 MMT per year by 2030
Main tool SIGHT programme
Exam link UPSC Prelims, Current Affairs and Government Schemes: Energy and Renewable Energy Schemes

Where Does It Fit?

This topic moves from solar power to a clean fuel made with it. Green hydrogen is meant to replace fossil fuels in fertiliser, refining and steel, where electricity alone cannot do the job. Previous topic: PM-KUSUM Scheme (Solar Pumps for Farmers). Next topic: UJALA Scheme (LED Bulb Distribution).

What Are the Targets and Outlay of the Mission?

Item	Details
Approval	Union Cabinet approval on 4 January 2023, after the launch of the National Hydrogen Mission was announced on 15 August 2021
Total outlay	Rs 19,744 crore, of which about Rs 17,490 crore is for the SIGHT programme, about Rs 1,466 crore for pilot projects, about Rs 400 crore for research and development and about Rs 388 crore for other mission components
Production target	At least 5 million metric tonnes a year of green hydrogen capacity by 2030, with potential to reach 10 million tonnes with export demand
Renewable link	About 125 GW of associated renewable energy capacity
Other targets	Over Rs 8 lakh crore of investment, about 6 lakh jobs, a cut of about Rs 1 lakh crore in fossil fuel imports and about 50 million tonnes of avoided emissions a year
Standard	A Green Hydrogen Standard issued in 2024 defines green hydrogen as hydrogen with a well to gate emission of not more than 2 kg of carbon dioxide equivalent per kg of hydrogen

What Is the SIGHT Programme and How Does It Work?

SIGHT full form: Strategic Interventions for Green Hydrogen Transition, the financial incentive scheme under the mission
Mode 1: incentives for domestic manufacturing of electrolysers, the machines that split water
Mode 2: incentives for the production of green hydrogen and green ammonia, awarded through competitive bidding
Implementing agency: the Solar Energy Corporation of India runs the tenders, and the ministry sets policy
Green Hydrogen Hubs: large production and use clusters are being developed, with Kandla, Paradip and Tuticorin ports identified as hubs
Pilot projects: pilots are supported in steel, mobility, shipping and decentralised energy, including hydrogen buses and trial of hydrogen in steel making
Hydrogen Valley Innovation Clusters: regional clusters for research, startups and testing
Standards and certification: a scheme for certification of green hydrogen helps buyers and exporters prove origin

What Else Should You Remember?

Colours of hydrogen: grey hydrogen comes from natural gas, brown or black from coal, blue from gas with carbon capture, and green from water electrolysis with renewable power
Why green hydrogen: it is a clean fuel for sectors that are hard to electrify, such as fertiliser, refining, steel, shipping and long haul transport
Import substitution: India imports a large part of its fossil fuel and fertiliser inputs, and green ammonia can lower this dependence
Fertiliser and refinery demand: the government has set aside part of SIGHT for fertiliser and refinery use, with purchase obligations being considered
SIGHT awards: as reported in early 2026, about 8.62 lakh tonnes a year of green hydrogen capacity was awarded to about 18 or 19 companies under production incentives, and electrolyser manufacturing capacity of 3,000 MW a year was awarded to 15 companies
Price discovery: reported discovered prices for awarded green hydrogen ranged from about Rs 50 to Rs 65 per kg, which is still above grey hydrogen
Spending: actual spending in the early years has been small, at a few hundred crore rupees as reported, because projects take years to build
Cost challenge: green hydrogen costs more than grey hydrogen, so incentives and demand rules are needed to create a market
Water and land: electrolysis needs fresh or desalinated water and large renewable energy sites, so locations near ports and sun rich regions are preferred
Link with solar: cheap solar power is the base, as in National Solar Mission (Jawaharlal Nehru National Solar Mission)
Link with ports: export of green ammonia and hydrogen will use port hubs, as in sagarmala-programme-ports/" class="maargx-auto-link" data-preview="At a Glance Approved 25 March 2015 Ministry Ports, Shipping and Waterways Pillars Four Funding vehicle Sagarmala Development Company Limited Plan period…">Sagarmala Programme (Ports)
Global context: India has signed hydrogen cooperation talks with partners such as the European Union, Japan and Germany, and wants to export green ammonia

Why Does It Matter for the Exam?

Basics: date, outlay, target and the ministry
SIGHT: its full form and the two modes
Concept: colours of hydrogen and how green hydrogen is produced
Hubs: the three port hubs named in the mission
Common errors: mixing up blue and green hydrogen, or giving the target year as 2047

As an analytical point, India has strong solar resources and a large demand for hydrogen in fertiliser and refining, which gives the mission a base. The central risk is cost. Without clear buyers and falling electrolyser prices, awarded capacity may not turn into real plants.

Why Is This Topic Important?

Numbers Rs 19,744 crore and 5 MMT
SIGHT Two modes
Concept Colours of hydrogen

What Came Next?

The next topic covers the household LED lighting scheme. Next topic: UJALA Scheme (LED Bulb Distribution).

Key People and Terms

Green hydrogen Hydrogen made by electrolysis using renewable power
SIGHT Strategic Interventions for Green Hydrogen Transition
Electrolyser Machine that splits water into hydrogen and oxygen
Green ammonia Ammonia made from green hydrogen
MMT Million metric tonnes
Grey hydrogen Hydrogen from natural gas

Exam Corner

Points to Remember

Approved 4 January 2023; outlay Rs 19,744 crore.
Target: 5 MMT by 2030.
SIGHT: Rs 17,490 crore.
Hubs: Kandla, Paradip, Tuticorin.
Standard: not more than 2 kg CO2e per kg.

Do Not Confuse With

Green and blue hydrogen Water electrolysis with renewables versus gas with carbon capture
SIGHT Mode 1 and Mode 2 Electrolyser manufacturing versus hydrogen production
National Hydrogen Mission and National Green Hydrogen Mission The 2021 announcement versus the 2023 approved mission

Memory Hook

Split water with sunshine; SIGHT sees five million tonnes by 2030.

Mains Angle

Questions ask whether green hydrogen can be made affordable. These points give a balanced frame.

Benefits Energy security, decarbonisation, exports
Challenges Cost, water, demand creation
Way forward Demand rules, cheaper power, infrastructure

A Question You May Face

An original practice question, not a past paper question.

“Examine the potential and challenges of the National Green Hydrogen Mission in decarbonising India’s economy.”

How to Answer

Aim Green hydrogen hub.
Tools SIGHT, hubs, standards.
Gaps Cost and demand.
Way Demand rules and cheaper power.

GS Relevance

Prelims: approval date, outlay, targets, SIGHT, hubs, colours of hydrogen. GS Paper 3: energy security, climate change, clean fuels, industrial decarbonisation.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the National Green Hydrogen Mission?

The National Green Hydrogen Mission is a Central mission of the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy approved on 4 January 2023 with an outlay of Rs 19,744 crore. It aims to build at least 5 million tonnes a year of green hydrogen capacity by 2030 and make India a global hub.

What does SIGHT stand for?

SIGHT stands for Strategic Interventions for Green Hydrogen Transition. It is the incentive programme under the mission, with about Rs 17,490 crore. Mode 1 supports domestic manufacturing of electrolysers and Mode 2 supports production of green hydrogen and green ammonia, with bids invited by the Solar Energy Corporation of India.

What is green hydrogen?

Green hydrogen is hydrogen made by splitting water into hydrogen and oxygen through electrolysis powered by renewable energy such as solar or wind. Under the national standard of 2024, its well to gate emissions must not exceed 2 kg of carbon dioxide equivalent per kg of hydrogen.

Which ministry runs the National Green Hydrogen Mission?

The Ministry of New and Renewable Energy runs the mission and sets policy. The Solar Energy Corporation of India conducts the tenders under SIGHT, while sectors such as steel, fertiliser, shipping and petroleum ministries take part through pilots, purchase plans and use of green hydrogen.

What is the latest status of the National Green Hydrogen Mission?

As reported in early 2026, about 8.62 lakh tonnes a year of production capacity was awarded to 18 or 19 companies, and 3,000 MW of electrolyser capacity to 15 firms. Actual spending is still small, and the 5 million tonne target for 2030 is seen as ambitious.

PYQ Practice — Statement Analysis

1 The National Green Hydrogen Mission was approved in January 2023.

True

The date was 4 January 2023.

2 Blue hydrogen is made by electrolysis using renewable energy.

False

That is green hydrogen. Blue uses gas with carbon capture.

3 SIGHT is the main incentive programme of the mission.