New Delhi: Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) Secretary Shri Santosh Kumar Sarangi has underscored the critical role of human capital in expanding India’s green energy footprint, stating that targeted investments in workforce development and future-ready skills are essential to sustain the nation’s clean energy ambitions.
Speaking at the launch of the joint report, “Driving the Energy Transition: Workforce, Skills and Gender in India’s Renewable Energy Sector,” Secretary Shri Sarangi highlighted that India has effectively proved that environmental sustainability and robust economic growth can progress hand in hand.
Shri Sarangi congratulated the collaborative teams from the MNRE, the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC), and the Council on Energy, Environment and Water (CEEW) for compiling the comprehensive study. He noted that while India has achieved exceptional growth in deploying renewable energy infrastructure, the next phase of the transition requires building institutional capacity and preparing a skilled, adaptable workforce capable of handling emerging sector demands.
The event also featured insights from industry leaders on the specific workforce challenges ahead. Ms. Dipa Singh Bagai, Country Head of NRDC India, reinforced the Secretary’s focus on human capital, emphasizing that the transition is ultimately about the people driving it. She called for better institutionalized data collection to track trends and improve women’s participation, while questioning whether the current workforce is ready for rapid digitization and artificial intelligence.
Dr. Arunabha Ghosh, CEO of CEEW, traced the evolution of the MNRE under administrative leadership, noting its transformation from a research-driven body into a core infrastructure ministry. He concluded that the future of India’s energy landscape will be defined by how effectively the country integrates decarbonization and digitization with highly skilled human resources.