Some 600 million Indians do not have access to electricity and about 700 million Indians use biomass as their primary energy resource for cooking and ensuring life line. Supply of clean energy to all is essential for nurturing inclusive growth, meeting the millennium development goals and raising India’s human  development index that compares poorly with several countries that are currently below India’s level of development. A sustained economic growth of at least 9 percent over the next 25 years is necessary for India to eradicate poverty and meet its larger human development goals. Meeting the energy requirements of
this growth in a sustainable manner presents a difficult challenge.
Energy requirement
India’s primary energy use is projected to expand massively to deliver a sustained growth rate of  9% through 2031-32, even after allowing for substantial reduction in energy intensity. Desired growth in GDP is expected to be sustained by growth of primary energy supply (of around 5.8% per year) including gathered non-commercial resources such as wood and dung. Commercial energy supply would need to grow faster at about 6.8% per annum as it will replace non-commercial energy.