FROM COAL TO CLEAN: INDIA’S LEGAL ENERGY TRANSITION

Since independence, India’s electricity generation profile has been dominated by coal. However, since last two-decades, India energy landscape is demonstrating a broad shift reflected by growing contribution of non-renewable energy sources in India’s energy portfolio. Instead of putting a complete ban on coal, this shift is attributed to a layered accumulation of policies, regulatory frameworks and statutes. The legal architecture and gradual policy norms paved way for India’s clean energy path. This article traces India’s energy law transition from coal to clean. It examines the legal and regulatory architecture which governs India’s initiative of coal to clean energy to determine the adequacy and efficiency of existing law to deliver a transition that is rapid but is required to be equitable. As coal still remains the backbone of India’s power system, the changing energy landscape with adoption of decentralized energy sources the transition requires enhanced judicial and legislative measures.