India has announced a ₹100 crore fund to support start-ups working on green hydrogen technologies, reinforcing its commitment under the National Green Hydrogen Mission (NGHM). The initiative was launched at the country’s first Green Hydrogen R&D Conference by Union Minister Pralhad Joshi, offering up to ₹5 crore per project across domains like production, storage, and utilisation.
The two-day event in New Delhi brings together 25 start-ups, researchers, and policymakers to showcase solutions across AI-driven optimisation, biological hydrogen production, and electrolyser innovation. The move aligns with India’s larger ambition to become a global hub for green hydrogen by 2030, with an expected annual production of 5 million metric tonnes and 125 GW of clean energy capacity.
R&D projects underway, international cooperation deepens
The R&D component of the NGHM has already approved 23 projects involving IITs, CSIR labs, and industry partners. These projects focus on biomass-based hydrogen, industrial decarbonisation, and safety solutions. The second round of proposals is open till September 15, 2025.
India is also expanding international collaboration, having received 30+ joint proposals under the EU-India Trade and Technology Council focused on waste-to-hydrogen production.
At the infrastructure level, five hydrogen-powered pilot projects in the steel sector are underway. Ports like Tuticorin and Paradeep are also being developed as hydrogen hubs, with pilot deployments of hydrogen buses, refuelling stations, and green ammonia production. The latter recently recorded a record low price of ₹49.75/kg, a major improvement from ₹100.28/kg in 2024.
Hydrogen hubs and incentives in place
The government has rolled out standards and certification for hydrogen, set up five testing facilities, and trained over 5,600 professionals. Regulatory incentives include transmission charge waivers, fast-track clearances, and import subsidies to ease R&D scaling and industrial use.
The overall NGHM aims to unlock ₹8 lakh crore in investment, create 6 lakh jobs, and help reduce 50 million tonnes of CO₂ annually. Hydrogen hubs are planned at Kandla, Paradip, and Tuticorin, positioning India as a long-term exporter.