- Why in news
- On 18 February 2026, Union Minister Pralhad Joshi addressed the launch of the India–UK Offshore Wind Taskforce, with UK Deputy PM David Lammy present. It aims to coordinate India's offshore wind build-up.
- What it is
- The India–UK Offshore Wind Taskforce is a bilateral working mechanism between the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy and the UK. It was set up under Vision 2035 and the Fourth Energy Dialogue. It brings UK experience in scaling offshore wind and supply chains to India's early projects.
- Parent frameworks
- The taskforce was constituted under India–UK Vision 2035 and the Fourth Energy Dialogue.
- Three cooperation pillars
- The pillars are ecosystem planning and market design, infrastructure and supply chains, and financing and risk mitigation.
- Identified zones
- Promising offshore wind zones are off Gujarat and Tamil Nadu. Surveys and studies were done through the National Institute of Wind Energy.
- Viability Gap Funding
- The government introduced a VGF scheme for early offshore projects with an outlay of ₹7,453 crore.
- Hydrogen Breakthrough Goal
- India is leading the Hydrogen Breakthrough Goal under the international Breakthrough Agenda.
- Installed capacity
- Non-fossil capacity has crossed 272 GW, with over 141 GW solar and 55 GW wind.
Don’t confuse with Offshore vs onshore wind: Offshore wind turbines are placed in the sea and need ports, specialised vessels and seabed leasing. Onshore turbines are on land, as most of India's 55 GW wind capacity is.
Don’t confuse with VGF vs seabed leasing: VGF is a capital subsidy to make early projects viable. Seabed leasing is the framework for granting rights to use sea areas for projects.
International bodies and relations: the largest group of news questions in Prelims (61 since 2013), often about background, members and location. In Mains, 27 news-triggered questions, mostly on India's interests.
Why it matters
- Offshore wind can supply steady clean power to coastal industry and green hydrogen clusters, aiding energy security.
- UK expertise in supply chains and finance can speed up India's first offshore projects.
Problems
- Offshore wind needs specialised ports, vessels and marine logistics that India lacks at scale.
- High costs, risk allocation and revenue uncertainty make projects hard to finance without support.
Way forward
- Set time-bound workstreams, clear seabed leasing rules and revenue-certainty mechanisms.
- Use blended finance, port upgrades and local manufacturing to cut costs.
Put in your answer
VGF for offshore wind: A ₹7,453 crore Viability Gap Funding scheme supports early offshore wind projects.
Capacity data: India's non-fossil capacity has crossed 272 GW, including over 141 GW solar and 55 GW wind.
- 2022Mains GS1 · Q7Examine India's wind energy potential and reasons for its limited spatial spread.
- 2016Mains GS3 · Q11Current status and targets for renewable energy; importance of LED programme.
- 2021Mains GS3 · Q6Purpose of Green Grid Initiative and when ISA first floated it.
UPSC’s own questions that come close to this issue, from our Prelims and Mains banks.
No practice question for this one; the card may still help an answer. Why: New bilateral mechanism under Vision 2035 on offshore wind. Worth reading, but few testable facts and low odds of a question.
Worth revising until Prelims 2027: most news questions come within two years of the event.