New Delhi, June 21, 2025:
India has slipped to 71st position on the World Economic Forum’s (WEF) 2024 Energy Transition Index (ETI), a sharp reflection of the ongoing challenges the country faces in achieving a sustainable and secure energy system, despite significant investments in renewable energy and electrification.

The ETI, released annually by the WEF, ranks 120 countries on their performance across three key dimensions: energy equity (access and affordability), energy security and reliability, and environmental sustainability. India’s drop from the 67th position last year to 71st in 2024 signals growing concerns about its energy policy execution, especially in a year where energy demand hit record highs.

Key Findings From the WEF ETI 2024 Report:

According to the report, India continues to perform well on electrification and renewable capacity expansion, yet it lags in reducing reliance on coal-based power, and faces structural and financial barriers to large-scale clean energy deployment.

“India’s energy system remains carbon-intensive, with coal accounting for over 70% of electricity generation,” the WEF report noted.
“While India has ambitious renewable energy targets, grid stability, fossil fuel subsidies, and energy access inequalities pose hurdles to faster transition.”

The report also cited insufficient grid integration, lagging storage technology, and policy uncertainty at the state level as key reasons for the lower score.

India’s Performance in Key Index Areas:

Comparative Global Rankings:

The top-ranked countries in ETI 2024 were once again dominated by Nordic nations, with Sweden retaining the top spot, followed by Denmark, Norway, and Finland. These countries scored high on clean energy usage, electrified transport, and effective regulatory frameworks.

Emerging economies like Vietnam (45) and Morocco (52) improved their ranks by prioritizing solar and wind deployment, while China (63) stayed ahead of India due to larger clean energy investments and stronger policy enforcement.

Challenges Identified for India:

Despite being one of the world's largest producers of solar energy, India faces a set of structural challenges:

• Heavy dependence on coal for base-load power generation.

• Inconsistent state-level implementation of national energy policies.

• Underdeveloped energy storage infrastructure and transmission limitations.

• Rising energy demand from industrialization outpacing clean energy deployment.

• Financial stress in DISCOMs (distribution companies) continues to slow infrastructure upgrades.

Efforts and Ambitions:

India has set a goal to reach 500 GW of non-fossil fuel capacity by 2030, part of its larger commitment to achieve net-zero emissions by 2070. Programs like the PM-KUSUM scheme, solar rooftop missions, and green hydrogen pilot projects are underway, but the WEF says these need faster execution.

Energy policy experts warn that without urgent reforms in pricing, subsidies, and land acquisition, India may struggle to climb back up the ETI rankings in the near term.

Expert Reactions:

Ajay Mathur, Director General of the International Solar Alliance (ISA), said:

“India’s drop in ranking is a wake-up call. We must now prioritize policy consistency, technological innovation, and decarbonization of industrial sectors.”

Arunabha Ghosh, CEO of CEEW (Council on Energy, Environment and Water), noted:

“The next phase of India’s energy transition must focus on energy storage, demand-side management, and building resilience into our grid infrastructure.”

Conclusion:

While India remains a significant player in the global energy transformation, its fall to 71st in the WEF’s Energy Transition Index 2024 highlights the urgent need to address systemic bottlenecks and accelerate its policy and infrastructural evolution.

Unless addressed proactively, the energy transition could become both a climate and economic bottleneck for India in the coming years — even as the country continues to pursue global climate leadership on other platforms.

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