India has increased its non-fossil fuel power capacity target to 60% by 2035 under its updated NDC
The country has already exceeded earlier targets, achieving 50% non-fossil capacity well before 2030
Official projections suggest non-fossil capacity could reach around 70% of installed power capacity by FY2035–36
India has raised its non-fossil-fuel power capacity target to 60% by 2035 under its updated Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) covering the period 2031-2035, recently approved by the Union Cabinet.
In its previous NDC, India targeted 50% non-fossil-fuel-based power capacity by 2030, a goal it achieved 5 years ahead of schedule (see India Meets 2030 Clean Energy Target 5 Years Early). The country met its target of 40% installed power capacity from non-fossil fuels, originally set for 2030, in November 2021.
By February 2026, India’s non-fossil-fuel capacity share in the national power mix rose to 52.57% with more than 275.46 GW installed. Solar led with over 143.6 GW. By 2030, it aims to achieve the 500 GW non-fossil-fuel capacity target.
In all probability, India should be able to, once again, exceed the revised NDC target (60% of non-fossil-fuel capacity) as the government’s own Central Electricity Authority (CEA) projects the country’s non-fossil-fuel capacity to reach 786 GW or about 70% of total installed capacity by FY2035-36.
World Resources Institute’s (WRI) Global Climate, Economics and Finance Director Melanie Robinson remarked, “The new target to reach 60% non-fossil electricity capacity by 2035 is particularly notable given rising energy demand. Domestic trajectories suggest India is on course to exceed this target, further proof that the country's clean energy transition is gaining real momentum.”
Climate Action Tracker (CAT) India Expert Dr. Nandini Das echoes the sentiment. She believes India could reach the 2035 target even earlier than 2030 under its existing policies, but argues that the goal falls short of delivering a stronger climate impact.
Das says that a non-fossil capacity target does not necessarily translate into a proportional decline in emissions unless it leads to higher electricity generation from these sources. “India has already achieved 50% non-fossil capacity, but the share of non-fossil sources in total generation remains comparatively low,” she added.
Notably, the CEA expects India’s total installed power capacity to reach about 1,121 GW by FY 2035-36, led by around 509 GW of solar PV capacity. However, coal is still projected to remain the largest contributor to the country’s electricity generation (see CEA: Solar Set To Become India’s Largest Power Source By 2035-36).
India says its commitments are aligned with its vision of Viksit Bharat by 2047 and achieving net-zero by 2070 (see India Goes For Net Zero By 2070).
“India’s original climate commitments i.e. NDC submitted in 2015, laid a strong foundation, with targets by 2030 of 33–35% reduction in the emissions intensity of GDP and 40% share of non-fossil resources based electric power installed capacity, both of which were met, 11 years and 9 years ahead of the committed timelines, demonstrating a credible and action-oriented approach to climate governance,” stated the Union Cabinet.
India plans to meet its 2035 NDC targets by expanding renewable energy, battery storage, and green energy corridors, promoting cleaner manufacturing, and strengthening climate-related policies and innovation. It will also support key schemes such as the Green Hydrogen Mission, PM Surya Ghar Muft Bijli Yojana (PMSGMBY), Production Linked incentive (PLI) schemes, and PM-KUSUM, while advancing international cooperation on climate initiatives.
Under the revised NDC, India also plans to create 3.5 billion to 4.0 billion tonnes of carbon equivalent carbon sink through forest and tree cover by 2035 from the 2025 level.
Additionally, it has committed to 47% reduction in emissions intensity of its GDP by 2035 from 2005 levels, claiming that it was able to reduce emissions intensity by 26% between 2005 and 2020.
