Editorial 1: The global warming fight has a challenge for India Context
Global Warming Challenge for India
Context
India faces a dual challenge: addressing its developmental needs while transitioning to clean energy sources. This transition involves higher costs and extended timelines, posing a significant hurdle in the fight against global warming.
Introduction
The outcome of COP29 in Azerbaijan has been disappointing, reflecting the global impasse in climate negotiations amidst a critical juncture in American politics. While international discussions remain deadlocked, the planet continues to face the relentless consequences of global warming. With developed countries committing to net-zero emissions by 2050, China by 2060, and India by 2070, the fight against global warming demands urgent and pragmatic action.
Emerging Challenges in the Energy Transition
Two critical developments threaten to accelerate the timeline for India’s energy transition:
- European Union’s Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM): Effective from 2026, CBAM imposes penal customs duties on imports from countries with lower carbon taxes than the EU, pressuring exporting nations to align their carbon taxation policies.
- Emission Peaking Pressure: The G-7 summits in Hiroshima (2023) and Apulia (2024) have called for major economies, particularly China and India, to accept emission peaking by 2025. While China has committed to peaking by 2030, India must confront similar expectations.
Implications of These Challenges
- Higher Costs and Shorter Timelines: A compressed timeline necessitates reliance on existing technologies, as emerging solutions like small modular reactors and hydrogen fuel are years away from commercial viability.
- Intermediate Stage of Peaking: Emission peaking—where emissions stabilize before declining—requires strategic planning and investments in energy capacity.
India’s Developmental Imperatives
India’s electricity consumption is one-third of the global average, highlighting the critical need for growth. While developed nations and China are focused on diversifying their energy mix, India must simultaneously grow and transition. The stakes are high:
- India’s minimum electricity demand is estimated at 21,000 TWh by 2070 (VIF-IIT Bombay study), far surpassing the International Energy Agency’s (IEA) estimate of 3,400 TWh by 2040.
- Decoupling growth from energy demand, as proposed by some, is unrealistic given the exponential energy requirements of a digital and service-based economy, particularly with advancements like generative AI.
Clean Energy Transition: Renewables vs. Nuclear
India’s path to emission-free energy lies in renewables and nuclear power. However, each has unique cost and land requirements:
- Cost: Nuclear power is more economical, with tariffs at ₹3.80/unit compared to renewable energy’s ₹7.50/unit (including storage and transmission).
- Land: Renewables demand over 4,12,033 sq. km, twice India’s surplus land, whereas nuclear energy requires only 1,83,565 sq. km.
- Global Trends: Countries like the U.S., France, and Japan aim to triple nuclear power by 2050. India, with nuclear contributing a mere 3% of electricity, must significantly enhance its capacity.
Financing the Transition
The financial challenge remains daunting:
- Developed nations’ COP29 commitment of $300 billion annually falls short of the $1.3 trillion demanded by developing countries.
- Green financing will necessitate increased tariffs and improved financial health of DISCOMs, requiring political consensus and public awareness.
- Carbon trading rules finalized at COP29 may disproportionately favor wealthier nations, further straining India’s growth prospects.
Way Forward
The energy transition is not just about reducing emissions; it is a fight for equitable carbon space essential for future growth. India must:
- Ramp Up Capacity: Establish high electricity generation capacity before accepting emission peaking deadlines.
- Focus on Nuclear Energy: Expand nuclear power through public-private partnerships and international collaborations.
- Sensitize Stakeholders: Build public and political consensus for higher tariffs and sustainable financing mechanisms.
- Leverage Carbon Space: Ensure fair allocation of the global carbon budget to safeguard developmental needs.
Conclusion
India’s energy transition is a complex balancing act between growth aspirations and global commitments. As the global carbon budget diminishes rapidly, India must secure its fair share by accelerating its energy transition in a sustainable and equitable manner. Only by doing so can we meet both developmental goals and climate obligations.
Editorial 2: Pointing the beacon at India’s undersea warfare capabilities
Pointing the Beacon at India’s Undersea Warfare Capabilities
Context
India’s proactive measures to enhance its undersea warfare capabilities underscore the government’s commitment to strengthening maritime security and stability in an evolving global landscape. These developments align with India’s broader maritime vision, emphasizing self-reliance, strategic autonomy, and regional cooperation.
Introduction
The Indian Navy began 2024 with significant operational successes, including the expansion of Operation Sankalp from the Strait of Hormuz to the Red Sea. The operation aimed to ensure the safety of maritime shipping from piracy and drone attacks, reinforcing India’s position as a reliable security partner and first responder. Among the year’s key highlights was the Navy’s substantial progress in undersea warfare capabilities, a critical domain for maritime security.
Key Developments in Undersea Warfare
Commissioning of INS Arighaat
- The commissioning of INS Arighaat, India’s second indigenous nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarine (SSBN), marked a milestone in bolstering the third leg of India’s nuclear triad.
- With advanced sonar systems, propulsion technology, and acoustic dampening, INS Arighaat significantly enhances India’s undersea warfare capabilities.
- The submarine’s successful test of the K-4 submarine-launched ballistic missile (SLBM), with a range of 3,500 kilometers, places key strategic locations, including parts of China, within striking range.
Project-77: Advancing Nuclear Submarine Capabilities
- In a pivotal move, the Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) approved Project-77 to construct two nuclear-powered attack submarines (SSNs) at a cost of ₹40,000 crore.
- With over 90% indigenous content, the first SSN is scheduled for delivery by 2036-37, ensuring significant domestic technological advancements.
- Once operational, these SSNs will protect deployed SSBNs, further enhancing India’s underwater warfare capabilities.
- With their induction, India will become the only non-P5 nation operating both SSBNs and SSNs.
Conventional Submarines: Sustained Relevance
Despite the focus on nuclear-powered submarines, conventional submarines remain critical:
- Project-75: The Navy’s collaboration with France will soon commission the sixth Scorpene-class submarine, INS Vaghsheer.
- Plans are underway to procure three additional Scorpene-class submarines, with 60% indigenous content, to bridge capability gaps caused by the decommissioning of older submarines.
- Air Independent Propulsion (AIP): The advent of AIP technology has significantly enhanced the endurance and efficacy of conventional submarines.
- Project-75(1): This initiative seeks to build AIP-enabled submarines with transfer-of-technology agreements from Spain’s Navantia and Germany’s Thyssenkrupp Marine Systems (TKMS). Indigenous content is expected to start at 45%, rising to 60% by the sixth submarine.
Niche Undersea Naval Technologies
Unmanned Underwater Vehicles (UUVs)
- India approved a ₹2,500 crore project to develop 100-tonne UUVs, offering a cost-effective and strategic option for addressing complex maritime threats.
- This project underscores India’s emphasis on leveraging niche technologies as strategic enablers in modern naval warfare.
Challenges in Enhancing Undersea Capabilities
- Budgetary Constraints:
- Insufficient modernization allocations and protracted delays in project execution hinder timely acquisitions.
- Long Gestation Periods:
- Sustained funding and streamlined processes for shortlisting manufacturers and evaluating tenders are essential to meet long-term goals.
- Strategic Balancing:
- A balanced approach is necessary to integrate undersea capabilities with surface and aviation assets, ensuring the Navy’s strategic and operational readiness.
Opportunities in Maritime Collaboration
India’s focus on undersea warfare capabilities presents opportunities for enhanced cooperation with strategic partners and friendly maritime nations. This aligns with India’s maritime vision of:
- SAGAR (Security and Growth for All in the Region): Promoting regional stability and prosperity.
- A free, open, and inclusive Indo-Pacific: Safeguarding international shipping lanes and countering emerging threats.
Conclusion
Strengthening undersea warfare capabilities is pivotal for India to address evolving maritime challenges, secure its strategic interests, and assert its role as a leading maritime power. By advancing indigenous technology, fostering partnerships, and ensuring sustained investment, India can effectively navigate the complexities of modern naval warfare while promoting a stable and secure maritime environment.
