The National Green Hydrogen Mission (NGHM) is a landmark scheme approved by the Union Cabinet on January 4, 2023, with an initial outlay of ₹19,744 crore. It is spearheaded by the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE). The Mission's origin lies in the need to reduce India's heavy reliance on fossil fuel imports and to achieve the national goals of energy independence by 2047 and Net Zero emissions by 2070. It was preceded by the National Hydrogen Mission announced on August 15, 2021.
The NGHM aims to establish India as a global hub for the production and export of Green Hydrogen, which is produced by splitting water through electrolysis using electricity from renewable sources. Its core mechanism is the Strategic Interventions for Green Hydrogen Transition (SIGHT) programme, which provides financial incentives for the domestic manufacturing of electrolysers and the production of green hydrogen. The Mission targets an annual green hydrogen production capacity of 5 million metric tonnes (MMT) by 2030, supported by about 125 GW of associated renewable energy capacity.
The NGHM connects directly to India's climate commitments and the decarbonisation of hard-to-abate sectors like steel, fertilizer, and mobility. A recent change includes the notification of the Green Hydrogen standard for India on August 19, 2023, which defines 'green' based on a maximum emission threshold of 2 kg of carbon dioxide equivalent per 1 kg of Hydrogen produced. Furthermore, on June 22, 2024, the MNRE increased the annual allocation for green ammonia production under the SIGHT Programme from 5,50,000 to 7,50,000 tonnes per annum.