1st September 2025 (15 Topics)
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Energy Sovereignty
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Context:
India’s heavy dependence on imported crude oil and gas amid global supply shocks has renewed focus on building an energy sovereignty doctrine.
India’s Import Dependence and Risks
- Crude Vulnerability: India imports over 85% of its crude oil and 50% of its natural gas, exposing its economy to global disruptions.
- Russian Factor: Russia has become India’s largest oil supplier (35%-40% in 2024-25), but overreliance on one partner increases strategic risk.
- Macroeconomic Strain: Crude and gas accounted for $170 billion of imports in FY2023-24, pressuring the rupee, widening trade deficit, and reducing economic stability.
Lessons from Global Energy Shocks
- Historical Flashpoints: Events like the 1973 Oil Embargo, 2011 Fukushima disaster, and 2021 Texas Freeze reshaped energy strategies worldwide.
- Geopolitical Disruptions: The 2022 Russia-Ukraine war and Europe’s energy crisis showed the dangers of single-source dependence.
- Recent Blackout Risk: The 2025 Iberian Peninsula grid collapse highlighted the perils of over-reliance on renewables without backup systems.
India’s Path to Energy Sovereignty
- Domestic Unlocking: Coal gasification, carbon capture, and nuclear revival can strengthen indigenous energy capacity.
- Sustainable Transition: Biofuels, ethanol blending, and green hydrogen create rural empowerment, foreign exchange savings, and clean fuel security.
- Resilient Backbone: Pumped hydro storage and diversified sourcing strategies ensure grid stability and protection against global oil shocks.
Practice Question:
“India’s energy policy must move from import dependence to energy sovereignty. Critically examine the challenges and opportunities of this transition in light of global energy disruptions.” (250 words)
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