changeadminIndia’s Minister of Earth Sciences, Dr Jitendra Singh, said that “Green Jobs” and ‘Green Entrepreneurship’ are set to become the defining drivers of the Green Economy of the future, with sectors such as renewable energy, electric mobility, green fuels and circular economy creating large-scale employment opportunities for the youth.
Dr Jitendra Singh was addressing the valedictory session of the National Conference on “Environmental Sustainability in the 21st Century: Science, Society and Solutions” at Jamia Millia Islamia, New Delhi, held on the occasion of Earth Day.
Referring to India’s growing green ecosystem, Dr Jitendra Singh said that initiatives such as the National Green Hydrogen Mission, backed by an outlay of over ₹19,000 crore, are laying the foundation for clean industrial transformation.
He said emerging technologies are enabling decarbonisation in key sectors like steel and cement, positioning India at the forefront of the global green transition.
The Minister said the pace of technological change is such that solutions envisioned today may evolve rapidly, making it essential to innovate continuously.
Citing examples from the electric mobility space, he referred to cost-effective grassroots innovations in which conventional vehicles are being converted to electric ones, making sustainability both affordable and scalable.
Highlighting the emergence of new employment avenues, the Minister said, the coming years will witness the expansion of green jobs across solar manufacturing, battery production, grid management and biofuels.
He also referred to the circular economy, including the conversion of used cooking oil into biofuel, as a promising area for entrepreneurship and job creation.
Dr Jitendra Singh also drew attention to new frontiers such as ocean energy, which remains largely untapped despite India’s vast coastline, and said it will complement solar and wind energy in the coming years.
On the energy security front, the Minister said, India is progressing towards higher nuclear power capacity with long-term targets, while also enabling greater participation of the private sector in strategic domains like space and nuclear energy to boost innovation and investment.
Referring to the ₹1 lakh crore Research, Development and Innovation (RDI) Fund, Dr Jitendra Singh said the initiative aims to support innovators and startups in scaling up their ideas, with a collaborative funding model involving government and private stakeholders.
Emphasising India’s global responsibility, Dr Jitendra Singh said that, with 1.4 billion people, the country has a critical role to play in advancing climate action.
He said India is well-positioned to lead the global green transition, guided by the “Lifestyle for Environment (LiFE)” vision advocated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
Dr Jitendra Singh also encouraged students and young researchers to actively engage with emerging opportunities in sustainability, stating that the future will be shaped by innovation, adaptability and informed choices driven by the youth.
Add comment