India targets green hydrogen at $1/kg by 2030, says Niti Ayog CEO Amitabh Kant

India has set an ambitious goal to cut the cost of green hydrogen production from about USD 4.5 per kg today to just USD 1 per kg by 2030, former NITI Aayog CEO Amitabh Kant said on Tuesday. Speaking at the National Green Economy Conclave hosted by the Council on Energy, Environment and Water (CEEW), he said achieving this price point would position India as the world’s most competitive green hydrogen producer and a global clean-energy leader.

Kant noted that the National Green Hydrogen Mission, rapid expansion of solar capacity and falling renewable energy tariffs are laying the groundwork for this shift. Calling green hydrogen a “defining pillar” of India’s long-term development, he said it will drive deep decarbonisation across hard-to-abate sectors including steel, fertilisers, heavy transport and industrial mobility.

He emphasised that the transition will spur a new wave of innovation and entrepreneurship. A stronger circular economy, he said, could unlock opportunities for startups working in recycling, new materials and green-tech solutions. India’s digital ecosystem—spanning geospatial tools, AI and digital public infrastructure—would further accelerate this transformation.

Quoting findings from a CEEW study, Kant said India’s green-economy shift could generate 48 million jobs, attract USD 4 trillion in investments and create a USD 1.4 trillion market by 2047. He described it as the country’s “biggest development opportunity since the 1991 reforms.”

Kant also urged India to adopt a growth model distinct from Western pathways, integrating sustainability and bioeconomy principles into urban design and infrastructure. With half of India’s future urban landscape yet to be built and nearly 500 million people expected to move to cities, he said the country has a unique chance to create green, inclusive, public-transport-centric cities.

Addressing the conclave virtually, former Union Minister Jayant Sinha said the green transition will boost jobs, improve public health and enhance energy security by reducing reliance on imported fuels. CEEW’s Abhishek Jain added that a strong circular-economy framework can significantly cut India’s dependence on imported crude and critical minerals, supporting the broader Viksit Bharat 2047 vision.