India is preparing to tackle the paradox of growth and green. NITI Aayog announced that the government will soon launch a Carbon Capture, Utilisation and Storage (CCUS) mission with incentives of 50 to 100 percent to promote adoption. The initiative aims to reconcile India’s rising energy demand, still heavily reliant on coal, with its climate commitments. By funding capture technology, the government hopes to create a pathway for both industrial resilience and environmental responsibility.
What is CCUS
Carbon Capture, Utilisation and Storage is the process of trapping carbon dioxide from industrial sources and power plants before it enters the atmosphere.
Captured CO₂ can then be converted into products like fuels or chemicals.
It can also be stored permanently in underground geological formations such as depleted oil and gas reservoirs or saline aquifers.
Why It Matters
For energy security: India remains dependent on coal, but CCUS could soften the climate trade-off.
For industry: Incentives lower costs for companies to adopt advanced capture technologies.
For climate goals: A step toward aligning economic growth with India’s net-zero ambitions.
The Bigger Picture
Carbon capture is controversial worldwide. seen by some as a bridge to a cleaner future, by others as an excuse to prolong fossil fuels. For India, launching a CCUS mission is as much about climate credibility on the global stage as it is about domestic sustainability.