Dr Jitendra Singh Highlights Green Hydrogen Mission and Indo-US Space Cooperation
New Delhi, August 25: Union Minister of State for Science and Technology, Dr Jitendra Singh, emphasized the Green Hydrogen Mission as a key part of India’s strategy to reduce carbon emissions in heavy industries, transportation, and power generation. He spoke during a meeting on US-India Civil Nuclear Commerce at Prithvi Bhavan in New Delhi.
Dr Singh stated, “India to Enhance Global Climate Goals through Green Hydrogen Mission and SMR Collaborations.” He noted that this initiative is crucial for innovation in clean technologies and achieving global climate goals. With strong policies and international partnerships, India aims to lead in sustainable energy.
Additionally, Dr Singh announced that an Indian astronaut from the Gaganyaan Mission will soon join the International Space Station (ISS), marking a significant achievement in Indo-US space cooperation. He highlighted the importance of this collaboration in securing global supply chains in critical sectors like semiconductors, pharmaceuticals, and clean energy technologies.
Dr Singh also revealed that the Indian government is investing in research and development and developing regulatory frameworks to support Small Modular Reactors (SMRs), which are essential for India’s clean energy transition and energy self-reliance.
He compared India’s “Anusandhan” National Research Foundation (NRF) with the United States’ National Science Foundation (NSF), emphasizing their roles in advancing scientific research and innovation. He reiterated India’s commitment to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s “Panchamrit” climate action plan, which aims to increase non-fossil energy capacity to 500 GW, cut carbon emissions by 1 billion tonnes, and achieve net-zero emissions by 2070.
Dr AK Sood, Principal Scientific Advisor to the Government of India, noted the importance of the Indo-US partnership in creating solutions for future challenges. Dr Ravi Chandran, Secretary of Earth Sciences, highlighted advancements in ocean energy and Carbon Capture, Utilisation, and Storage (CCUS) technologies. Dr Rajesh Gokhale, Secretary of the Department of Biotechnology, discussed progress in biomass-to-energy conversion and biofuels. Professor Abhay Karandikar emphasized the strategic importance of emerging technologies like data analytics, AI, and machine learning. Dr N Kalaiselvi, Director General of CSIR, highlighted advancements in lithium-ion battery development and sustainable energy storage solutions.
The meeting, attended by a high-level US delegation led by John Podesta, Senior Advisor to the US President for International Climate Policy, and David Turk, Deputy Secretary of the US Department of Energy, concluded with both nations reaffirming their commitment to enhancing cooperation in emerging technologies, economic growth, national security, and global leadership in technological advancements.
Doubts Revealed
Dr Jitendra Singh -: Dr Jitendra Singh is a Union Minister in the Indian government. He is responsible for various departments, including science and technology.
Green Hydrogen Mission -: The Green Hydrogen Mission is an initiative by India to produce hydrogen using renewable energy sources. This helps in reducing pollution and dependence on fossil fuels.
Indo-US Space Cooperation -: Indo-US Space Cooperation refers to the collaboration between India and the United States in space exploration and technology. This includes joint missions and sharing of knowledge.
International Space Station -: The International Space Station (ISS) is a large spacecraft that orbits Earth. It is a place where astronauts from different countries live and work on scientific experiments.
US-India Civil Nuclear Commerce -: US-India Civil Nuclear Commerce is an agreement between the United States and India to work together on nuclear energy projects. This helps both countries in developing safe and clean nuclear power.
clean energy -: Clean energy is energy that comes from sources that do not pollute the environment. Examples include solar, wind, and hydroelectric power.
sustainable development -: Sustainable development means using resources in a way that meets our needs without harming the environment. It ensures that future generations can also meet their needs.
