- Why in news
- On 28 October 2026, PIB released a backgrounder on green hydrogen and the National Green Hydrogen Mission (NGHM), listing progress on standards, certification, pilots and hubs.
- What it is
- Green hydrogen is hydrogen made by splitting water with renewable electricity in an electrolyser. The National Green Hydrogen Mission, run by MNRE, aims to make India a global hub for green hydrogen and its derivatives. It backs electrolyser manufacturing, production, demand creation, standards and R&D.
- Electrolysis
- Hydrogen forms at the cathode and oxygen at the anode of an electrolyser.
- Hubs and certification
- Kandla, V.O. Chidambaranar and Paradip ports are recognised as hubs. BEE accredits agencies for the Green Hydrogen Certification Scheme launched in April 2025.
- ISTS waiver
- Green hydrogen and green ammonia plants commissioned by 31 December 2030 get a 25-year ISTS charge waiver.
Don’t confuse with Green vs grey hydrogen: Green hydrogen comes from water electrolysis using renewable power. Conventional hydrogen from natural gas or other fossil fuels is high-emission.
Don’t confuse with SIGHT vs HVIC: SIGHT gives incentives for electrolyser manufacturing and production. HVICs and hubs are cluster projects bringing production and use together.
Science and technology: 57 Prelims questions since 2013; most test the concept behind the news, not the news itself. In Mains, 12 news-triggered questions.
Why it matters
- Replaces fossil hydrogen in fertiliser, refining and steel, and cuts import dependence and emissions.
- Supports net-zero by 2070, jobs and export of green ammonia and methanol.
Problems
- Hydrogen is hard to transport and store, and needs port and refuelling infrastructure.
- Electrolyser supply chains are still being built, and commissioned capacity (about 8,000 tpa by February 2026) is far below awarded capacity.
Way forward
- Build demand through pilots and hubs, and scale up domestic electrolyser manufacturing.
- Strengthen certification and international standards alignment to enable exports.
Put in your answer
India's first hydrogen train: Inaugurated 17 July 2026 on the Jind-Sonipat section.
State policies: Six states have notified dedicated green hydrogen policies, including Gujarat and Rajasthan.
- 2026Prelims Q45Which statements on green hydrogen, electrolysis, and the mission's 50 MMT target are correct?
- 2025Mains GS3 · Q6How can India achieve energy independence through clean technology by 2047, and biotechnology's role?
- 2023Prelims Q60Which uses of green hydrogen (direct fuel, natural gas blending, fuel cells) are correct?
UPSC’s own questions that come close to this issue, from our Prelims and Mains banks.
Prelims practice · Single answer
Ours, not from a UPSC paper
With reference to India's National Green Hydrogen Mission (NGHM) and green hydrogen policy, consider the following statements:
- 1.Under India's Green Hydrogen Standard, hydrogen is green if emissions do not exceed 2 kg CO2 equivalent per kg of hydrogen, on a well-to-gate basis.
- 2.In an electrolyser, hydrogen forms at the anode and oxygen at the cathode.
- 3.The Green Hydrogen Certification Scheme of India accredits agencies through the Central Electricity Authority.
- 4.Green hydrogen plants commissioned by 31 December 2030 are exempt from ISTS charges for 10 years.
Which of the statements given above are correct?
True or false?
1 of 6
Statements the way Prelims prints them. Say first, then see the fact.
1.Under India's Green Hydrogen Standard, hydrogen qualifies as green if emissions do not exceed 2 kg CO2 equivalent per kg of hydrogen.
True. The ceiling is 2 kg CO2e per kg of hydrogen, well-to-gate, averaged over 12 months.
2.In an electrolyser, hydrogen is produced at the anode and oxygen at the cathode.
False. Hydrogen forms at the cathode and oxygen at the anode.
3.The National Green Hydrogen Mission is implemented by the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy.
True. MNRE implements NGHM.
4.NGHM targets annual green hydrogen production capacity of at least 5 million metric tonnes by 2030.
True. The target is at least 5 MMT a year by 2030, possibly 10 MMT with export demand.
5.The Green Hydrogen Certification Scheme of India accredits agencies through the Central Electricity Authority.
False. The Bureau of Energy Efficiency accredits agencies for monitoring, verification and certification.
6.Standalone plants making green hydrogen by electrolysis using renewable energy are exempt from prior Environmental Clearance under the EIA Notification, 2006.
True. They are exempted from prior Environmental Clearance.
Written by us from the release, not by UPSC; checked by a second model.
Worth revising until Prelims 2028: most news questions come within two years of the event.