National Push for CCUS Development
India’s New Carbon Capture R&D Drive: India has unveiled a new R&D roadmap for Carbon Capture, Utilisation and Storage (CCUS) to support its long-term Net-Zero 2070 vision. The roadmap positions CCUS as a core technology for lowering emissions from large industrial systems. It aims to accelerate coordinated national research, enhance innovation, and build deployment pathways for high-emitting sectors.
Static GK fact: India announced its Net-Zero target in 2021 at the Glasgow COP26 summit.
Focus on Hard-to-Abate Industries
The strategy prioritises sectors such as cement, steel and power, which are difficult to decarbonise using existing methods. These industries contribute a significant share of India’s industrial CO₂ emissions. The roadmap encourages scalable solutions that can capture, reuse or securely store carbon generated from these operations.
Static GK Tip: India is the second-largest producer of cement globally after China.
Institutional Backing and Funding
The initiative was launched by Principal Scientific Adviser Ajay Kumar Sood, marking a major institutional push. It integrates with the government’s ₹1 lakh crore Research, Development and Innovation (RDI) funding to accelerate CCUS technology readiness. This financial support is expected to shorten the transition from pilot testing to industrial-scale deployment.
Earlier, five CCU testbeds were introduced in the cement sector to foster a collaborative research ecosystem for decarbonisation.
Mechanics of CCUS Technologies
CCUS involves processes that separate CO₂, compress it, and transport it for long-term geological storage or industrial utilisation. Captured carbon can also be converted into products such as chemicals, fuels and construction materials. While global experts widely consider CCUS essential for achieving net-zero pathways, concerns persist that improper deployment could extend fossil fuel use or cause additional emissions.
Static GK fact: The world’s first large-scale CCS project began in Norway’s Sleipner field in 1996.
Capacity Building and Regulatory Needs
The roadmap highlights the need to expand skilled manpower, technical standards and shared infrastructure to support CCUS adoption. It also stresses the importance of regulatory clarity to monitor storage safety, manage industrial clusters and encourage private-sector innovation. As the US, EU and China advance similar technologies, India’s structured approach aims to safeguard industrial competitiveness and strengthen its long-term climate strategy.
Static GK Tip: The Bureau of Energy Efficiency (BEE) leads several industrial energy-efficiency programmes in India, including the PAT scheme.
India’s Place in the Global Decarbonisation Landscape
With increasing global attention on carbon removal solutions, India’s CCUS roadmap enhances its role in climate technology leadership. The initiative seeks to align domestic research with global standards while supporting economic growth through low-carbon industries. This marks a significant step in building a resilient energy future capable of meeting national and global climate commitments.
Static Usthadian Current Affairs Table
India’s New Carbon Capture R&D Drive:
| Topic | Detail |
| Launch year of CCUS roadmap | Introduced in 2025 |
| Key objective | Support India’s Net-Zero 2070 goal |
| Main sectors targeted | Cement, steel, power |
| Major funding pathway | ₹1 lakh crore RDI funding |
| Institutional lead | Principal Scientific Adviser |
| Testbeds announced | Five CCU testbeds in cement sector |
| Technology process | Capturing, compressing, transporting CO₂ |
| Global relevance | Adopted by US, EU, China |
| Industrial benefit | Supports long-term competitiveness |
| Long-term aim | Build national CCUS capacity and infrastructure |
