Editorial 1: India, rising power demand and the ‘hydrogen factor’

Context

To reach a net-zero economy, where we reduce harmful emissions, we will need to use more hydrogen. So, making hydrogen and storing electricity should work closely together.

Introduction

To reach a net-zero economy, we need to use electricity for most of our energy needs. Right now, fossil fuels are not only used to make electricity but also to produce heat and certain materials needed in industries. For example, coal is used in making steel, and natural gas provides hydrogen to make ammonia for fertilizers. While using fossil fuels for heat is common and well-known, we can replace some of their uses—like using hydrogen instead of carbon in steel-making. So, moving towards a net-zero economy means switching to electricity for most energy uses and using hydrogen in many industrial processes.

Rising Electricity Demand for Net-Zero India

• Experts predict a sharp rise in electricity demand to achieve net-zero emissions for a developed India.
• Solar, wind, and hydro energy alone cannot meet the full demand.
• Nuclear power must be a key part of India’s energy mix.
• The Indian government has set a goal to reach 100 GW of nuclear capacity by 2047.

Nuclear Power Expansion by NPCIL

• NPCIL (Nuclear Power Corporation of India Limited) is planning to build several 700 MW Pressurized Heavy Water Reactors (PHWRs).

Status of 700 MW PHWRs:

Location	Status
Kakrapar, Gujarat	2 units operational
Rajasthan	1 unit synchronized (Mar 2025), 1 under commissioning
Haryana	2 units under construction

• 2017: NPCIL announced a plan to build 10 PHWRs.
• March 2025: NPCIL announced 10 more PHWRs.
• Total: 26 units of 700 MW PHWRs planned.
• Public Sector Units (PSUs) like Indian Railways are also exploring nuclear energy use.

Bharat Small Reactors (BSRs)

• NPCIL is inviting industry proposals for 220 MW PHWRs called Bharat Small Reactors.
• BSRs are upgraded versions of NPCIL’s existing small reactors.
• Indian industry has the capability to manufacture all PHWR components domestically.

Rise of Low-Carbon Energy Sources

• Future electricity will increasingly come from low-carbon sources:
  Hydro, Nuclear, Solar, Wind.

Source	Nature	Comment
Solar	Intermittent	Depends on sunlight
Wind	Intermittent	Depends on wind availability
Hydro	Low-carbon	Weather dependent
Nuclear	Base load	Best operated continuously

• Currently, coal-fired power plants are adjusted (“flexed”) during the day to balance with solar supply, reducing emissions.

Challenges in Flexing Nuclear Power

• Flexing nuclear plants is not ideal because:
  • High capital cost makes it inefficient to reduce output.
  • Variable cost remains almost the same at low or high output.
  • Technically complex and not cost-effective.
  • Some future advanced reactors may support flexible operation.

Solution: Hydrogen Production with Surplus Electricity

• Instead of flexing nuclear or curtailing solar/wind:
  • Use electrolysers to produce hydrogen from extra electricity.
  • This hydrogen can be used in industries, not reconverted to electricity.
  • It reduces the need for expensive electricity storage.
• Benefits of Electrolysers:
  • Low-cost and can run at varying power levels.
  • Help shape demand and ensure better grid balance.

Green vs. Low-Carbon Hydrogen

• India promotes green hydrogen (from solar and wind-powered electrolysis).
• A certification scheme allows hydrogen to be classified as green if:
  • It emits ≤ 2 kg CO₂ per kg of H₂.
• Rename the category from “green hydrogen” to “low-carbon hydrogen”.
• Allow hydrogen from nuclear power to be included under this definition, as its life-cycle emissions are similar to renewable sources.

Conclusion: Need for synergy

Right now, electricity storage and hydrogen production are seen as separate activities. But this needs to change. We should combine both processes to make them more cost-effective. Our case studies show that when hydrogen production and battery storage work together, the overall costs go down. We suggest two key policy changes: Firstly, replace the term “green hydrogen” with “low-carbon hydrogen”. Secondly, combine electricity storage and hydrogen production to improve efficiency and economic.

Editorial 2: The approach to regulating AI in India

Context

There are different ways to manage and regulate AI, and we can learn a lot from how countries around the world have dealt with data regulations and policies.

Introduction

Over the past year, the governance and regulation of AI have gained a lot of global attention. While the focus has recently shifted from social safety, inclusivity, and human rights to prioritizing innovation and economic growth, only a few countries or regions have introduced laws to regulate AI. These include China, the European Union, Canada, South Korea, Peru, and the U.S. (although President Donald Trump has now reversed the AI executive order from former President Joe Biden). Several countries, such as the U.K., Japan, Brazil, Costa Rica, Colombia, and Pakistan, have draft bills waiting for approval from their legislative bodies.

• A common approach globally is publishing a policy or strategy document.
• These documents outline intentions, plans, budgets, and a road map for using AI to boost socio-economic development.
• They aim to ensure growth is inclusive, ethical, and sustainable.
• Around 85 countries and the African Union have released official National AI Strategy documents.

India’s Approach to AI Governance

• Lack of Official National AI Strategy: India does not have an officially approved National AI Strategy document or a specific AI regulation law.
• Focus on Government Mission: Instead, India has focused on a government mission designed to support AI development and adoption.
• NITI Aayog’s 2018 Document: The 2018 NITI Aayog document titled ‘National Strategy for Artificial Intelligence’ provides comprehensive suggestions but remains a recommendation without formal government approval, implementation plan, or budget.

IndiaAI Mission and Its Goals

• Seven Pillars of IndiaAI Mission:
  • Innovative ecosystem
  • Skilled workforce
  • Safe AI development
  • Trustworthy AI systems
• Foundational AI Model: Several initiatives, including a foundational AI model, are in development.
• Advisory Group: An expert advisory group is working to develop governance framework recommendations. However, there is uncertainty about whether these recommendations will become official policies.

Benefits and Gaps in India’s Approach

Benefits

• Flexibility: Ability to adapt plans based on evolving technology, geopolitics, economics, and citizen sentiment.

Gaps

• Lack of Comprehensive Vision: No clear roadmap of India’s vision, priorities, capacity, or accountability mechanisms.
  • Initiatives remain reactive and may not follow a planned trajectory.
  • Potential dependence on individual leadership.

AI Adoption in India

• Global AI Development: AI development is mainly concentrated in U.S., EU, U.K., and China.
  However, India is witnessing a rapid rise in AI adoption.
• Potential Risks: As AI usage grows, concerns about discrimination, exclusion, unfair outcomes, cybersecurity risks, privacy breaches, and unequal opportunities are emerging.

Current AI Governance and Issues

• Voluntary Guidelines: Current AI governance in India is largely voluntary and lacks clarity.
• Lack of Public Awareness: There is little public awareness of algorithmic use, efficacy, or evaluation metrics in sectors like banking, insurance, education, healthcare, and public administration.
• Absence of Civic Discourse: There is limited discussion on issues like algorithmic alignment, model evaluation, data provenance, labour market disruptions, and cybersecurity and privacy risks.
• Concerns from AI-generated Content: India has already seen violence and social harm linked to AI-generated content on social media platforms in recent years.

Approaches to AI Governance and Regulation

• Global Lessons from Data Regulation and Policies:
  • Different countries have adopted varying approaches to AI governance and data protection, offering valuable lessons.

AI Governance Approaches by Country

Country	Approach	Characteristics
India	Digital Personal Data Protection (DPDP) Act, 2023	Cross-sectoral, centralised, and comprehensive. Similar to EU’s GDPR and China’s Personal Information Protection Law.
U.S.	Decentralised and Sector-Specific	Decentralised regulations with sector-specific laws for data protection and privacy.
China	Focused Laws for Specific AI Types and Use Cases	Laws tailored for specific AI technologies (e.g., generative AI) and use cases (e.g., deep synthesis).

• India’s Potential Approach:
  • India could:
    • Adopt one of these existing models.
    • Develop a hybrid model based on the framework established by the DPDP Act, 2023.

Short-term Goal: AI Policy for India

• AI Policy for India:
  • A short-term goal for India to:
    • Pilot enforcement tools before formal legislation.
• Key Areas for AI Policy:

Essential Elements for India’s AI Policy

Area	Key Consideration	Possible Approaches
Vision for AI	Defining India’s strategic goals and aspirations for AI.	Clear national goals and targets for AI in India’s development.
Capacity Building	Creating infrastructure and resources to support AI development.	Government-led initiatives to build AI ecosystem and workforce.
Policy Implementation	Designating the government authority responsible for AI policy.	Centralised or coordinated agency overseeing AI governance.
Ethical Guidelines	Establishing frameworks for responsible and ethical AI use.	Code of ethics emphasizing fairness, transparency, and accountability.
Priority Sectors	Identifying sectors where AI can drive socio-economic growth.	Focus on healthcare, agriculture, education, and manufacturing.

• Public Engagement: Urgent need for the government to initiate public discussions on AI use, ensuring broader participation and feedback.

Insights from 85 Global AI Policies

Area	Key Consideration
Vision for AI	Defining clear long-term goals for AI development.
Capacity Building	Building infrastructure, resources, and training for AI growth.
Policy Implementation	Identifying and empowering the government body responsible for policy execution.
Ethical Guidelines	Establishing standards for fair, transparent, and accountable AI use.
Priority Sectors	Focusing on economic and social sectors where AI can make a significant impact.

Conclusion

In conclusion, India’s AI governance approach lacks a formal national strategy and faces gaps in vision, accountability, and public engagement. Drawing lessons from global examples like the EU, China, and the U.S., India must establish a clear AI policy, implement pilot initiatives, and encourage public discourse to ensure responsible AI development and adoption.