Government think tank NITI Aayog has recommended establishing a national project management agency to drive the green energy transition of micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs), supporting India's ambitious goal to achieve net zero carbon emissions by 2070. The proposal comes as part of comprehensive efforts to decarbonise key industrial sectors contributing significantly to the country's carbon footprint.

Proposed National Project Management Agency

The NITI Aayog report on 'Roadmap for green transition of MSMEs' outlines the creation of a national project management agency (NPMA) as an independent consultative and advisory entity. The agency would operate under the monitoring of an inter-ministerial committee and focus on ground-level implementation of green transition programmes.

The NPMA would identify interested MSME clusters and industrial associations through a detailed expression of interest process, enabling clusters to participate in green transition programmes through Special Purpose Vehicles.

Sector-Specific Decarbonisation Strategies

Cement Industry Roadmap

NITI Aayog's 'Roadmap for Cement Sector Decarbonisation' focuses on three key solutions to reduce the industry's carbon footprint:

• Increased usage of Refuse Derived Fuel (RDF) from municipal solid waste to substitute thermal heating from coal
• Enhanced utilisation of supplementary cementitious materials and clinker substitutes
• Scaling up Carbon Capture, Utilisation and Storage (CCUS) technology for capturing CO2 in process emissions

The report indicates that implementing these three solutions could enable the Indian cement sector to reduce 80-85% of greenhouse gas emissions by 2070.

Aluminium Sector Transformation

The 'Roadmap for Aluminium Sector Decarbonisation' proposes a three-stage approach to reduce the sector's carbon footprint:

MSME Sector Overview and Challenges

India's MSME sector represents a substantial portion of the economy, comprising 69 million units with approximately 68.6 million classified as micro entities. The sector's economic contribution is significant across multiple parameters:

MSMEs face multiple challenges in adopting green technologies, including limited capacity for green projects, restricted access to reliable finance for energy transition, insufficient awareness of policies and schemes, absence of scalable models, and market uncertainties affecting investment decisions.

India's Climate Commitments

At the 26th UN Climate Change Conference (COP26), India committed to achieving net-zero emissions by 2070, reducing carbon intensity by 45% by 2030, and increasing non-fossil energy capacity to 500 GW by 2030. These ambitious targets require comprehensive efforts across all sectors, with industrial decarbonisation playing a crucial role in meeting the country's climate goals.

NITI Aayog CEO BVR Subrahmanyam has set an ambitious target for India to become an $8-10 trillion export economy by 2047, announcing this vision during the release of the fourth edition of the Export Preparedness Index on Wednesday, January 14. This announcement underscores India's commitment to significantly expanding its global trade footprint over the next two decades.

Export Preparedness Index Reveals State Performance

The Export Preparedness Index, built on 70 comprehensive parameters, serves as a crucial tool for investors seeking data-backed insights into how Indian states perform in terms of export readiness. The index provides a clear snapshot of each state's capabilities and infrastructure for supporting export activities.

Coastal states maintain their leadership position in the rankings, benefiting from natural logistical advantages and easier access to ports. However, the index reveals encouraging progress among inland states, with Uttar Pradesh, Punjab, and Haryana posting notable gains. These improvements signal enhanced policy support, better infrastructure development, and stronger export ecosystems in these regions.

Focus on Competitiveness Over Protection

Dr Arvind Virmani of NITI Aayog emphasized the importance of measurement in driving improvements, highlighting that the Aatmanirbhar Bharat initiative centers on competitiveness rather than protectionism. "Aatmanirbhar Bharat is about competitiveness, which includes both cost and quality, and not protection of high-cost or shoddy goods," he stated, underlining the need for Indian products to compete effectively on global markets through superior quality and competitive pricing.

Strong Export Performance in 2025

India's export sector has demonstrated robust growth momentum, with impressive performance figures for the current period. The country's total merchandise and services exports reached an estimated $562.13 billion for the April-November 2025 period, according to government data.

This performance represents a 5.43% increase over the previous year, driven primarily by strong demand for electronics, engineering goods, and pharmaceuticals. The data also highlights a notable rebound in rice exports, contributing to the overall growth trajectory.

Strategic Vision for Export Growth

The $8-10 trillion export target by 2047 represents a significant scaling up from current levels, requiring sustained improvements across infrastructure, policy frameworks, and competitive capabilities. The Export Preparedness Index will continue to serve as a monitoring tool, helping states identify areas for improvement and track progress toward enhanced export readiness.