Do you think India will meet 50 percent of its energy needs from renewable energy by 2030? Justify your answer. How will the shift of subsidies from fossil fuels to renewables help achieve the above objective? Explain.

India has set a target of 50% electric power installed capacity from non-fossil fuel based energy resources by 2030. India presently has non-fossil fuel based installed capacity of 155 GW (39%).

India in most likelihood will be able to achieve this target as:

1. The growth in the non-fossil fuel-based installation capacity is much higher as compared to the fossil fuel-based energy. 
2. Govt. is running various schemes like establishment of 50 Solar Parks of 500 MW with the help of state governments. 
3. Government has launched Production Linked Incentive (PLI) scheme for manufacturing domestic solar modules 

Govt. is providing various subsidies on renewable energy generation and moving away from the subsidies provided for fossil fuel:

1. Government provides subsidies on solar rooftops and agriculture solar pumps under KUSUM scheme. 
2. Government imposing ‘Clean Energy Cess’ of Rs. 400/tonne on coal used for power projects. 
3. Ministry of Power in consultation with Ministry of New and Renewable Energy setting target of ‘Renewable Purchase Obligations (RPOs) on States.

The above steps will help in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) of ‘affordable and clean energy’ (SDG – 7) and ‘climate action’ (SDG – 13).