Chapter 2
Energy Sector Progression in India
Abstract India’s economic and industrial expansion has not been commensurate
with rapid population explosion after independence. With abysmally poor per capita
consumption and limited indigenous sources for energy generation, India committed
huge quantum of its financial and other resources for food, water, and energy security. Over a period of seven decades that witnessed numerous crests and troughs
of energy insecurity especially from global forces coupled with national and international environmental concerns for power projects, India has been able to connect
almost all rural and urban areas in its electricity network. All five-year plans and interregnums planned and executed by the Government of India gave priority to power
sector in setting up hydro, thermal, and nuclear plants in a phased manner. Nonetheless, the imminent global warming threats have forced every nation to relinquish
non-renewables and look for other options including solar, wind, and geothermal.
This chapter is a synopsis of India’s journey in energy sector post-independence.
Keywords Coal · Natural gas · Petroleum · Nuclear · Planning commission
Largest among all South Asian nations in terms of population, land area, and coastline, the triangular-shaped Indian peninsula covers an area of 3.28 million km
2 .
Geographically, India can be divided into five parts, namely:
i. The Himalayan range in the north;
ii. The Northern Plains;
iii. The Great Peninsular Plateau;
iv. The Coastal Plains; and
v. The Islands.
There are 14 major, 44 medium, and 55 minor rivers that cumulatively discharge
about 1566 thousand million cubic meters of water annually through land drainage
into the seas. Nine of 14 major rivers meet the sea in the east coast and the remaining
five in the west coast. The coastline of the eastern (Bay of Bengal) coast differs from
the western (Arabian Sea) coast. The east coast is characterized by a narrow continental shelf and slow-moving rivers with four major deltas formed by the Cauvery,
Krishna, Godavari, and Mahanadi. India has often been described as a rich land
© Springer Nature Singapore Pte Ltd. 2021
A. Srivastav, Energy Dynamics and Climate Mitigation,
Advances in Geographical and Environmental Sciences,
https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-15-8940-9_2
33
Energy Sector Progression in India
Abstract India’s economic and industrial expansion has not been commensurate
with rapid population explosion after independence. With abysmally poor per capita
consumption and limited indigenous sources for energy generation, India committed
huge quantum of its financial and other resources for food, water, and energy security. Over a period of seven decades that witnessed numerous crests and troughs
of energy insecurity especially from global forces coupled with national and international environmental concerns for power projects, India has been able to connect
almost all rural and urban areas in its electricity network. All five-year plans and interregnums planned and executed by the Government of India gave priority to power
sector in setting up hydro, thermal, and nuclear plants in a phased manner. Nonetheless, the imminent global warming threats have forced every nation to relinquish
non-renewables and look for other options including solar, wind, and geothermal.
This chapter is a synopsis of India’s journey in energy sector post-independence.
Keywords Coal · Natural gas · Petroleum · Nuclear · Planning commission
Largest among all South Asian nations in terms of population, land area, and coastline, the triangular-shaped Indian peninsula covers an area of 3.28 million km
2 .
Geographically, India can be divided into five parts, namely:
i. The Himalayan range in the north;
ii. The Northern Plains;
iii. The Great Peninsular Plateau;
iv. The Coastal Plains; and
v. The Islands.
There are 14 major, 44 medium, and 55 minor rivers that cumulatively discharge
about 1566 thousand million cubic meters of water annually through land drainage
into the seas. Nine of 14 major rivers meet the sea in the east coast and the remaining
five in the west coast. The coastline of the eastern (Bay of Bengal) coast differs from
the western (Arabian Sea) coast. The east coast is characterized by a narrow continental shelf and slow-moving rivers with four major deltas formed by the Cauvery,
Krishna, Godavari, and Mahanadi. India has often been described as a rich land
© Springer Nature Singapore Pte Ltd. 2021
A. Srivastav, Energy Dynamics and Climate Mitigation,
Advances in Geographical and Environmental Sciences,
https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-15-8940-9_2
33