Introduction
As Prime Minister Narendra Modi turns 75, it is also a milestone moment for India with much to celebrate. Over the past decade, the government has amplified the country’s global presence while shaping a development path that places sustainability closer to the center. From Paris to Glasgow to Delhi, India has consistently reframed climate action as an opportunity to build a future-ready workforce. This article traces India’s climate journey; from global leadership and clean-energy initiatives to the workforce and mindset shifts needed at home.

India on the Global Stage
Few countries have integrated climate ambition into their national story as seamlessly as India. In 2015, it co-launched the International Solar Alliance at COP21 in Paris, bringing together over 120 nations under the banner of “One Sun, One World, One Grid.” At COP26 in Glasgow, India pledged Net Zero by 2070 alongside interim goals: 500 GW of renewable capacity by 2030 and a 45 per cent reduction in emissions intensity. During the G20 presidency in 2023, the government unveiled the Global Biofuels Alliance, signaling India’s role as a shaper of future energy markets.

As the Prime Minister said in Glasgow, “Instead of mindless and destructive consumption, we need mindful and deliberate utilization.” That call spoke not only to global solidarity but also to the link between India’s young workforce and the climate transition.

The Solar Revolution And The Hydrogen Horizon
This ambition translates directly into action at home. In 2014, India’s installed renewable capacity stood at 71 GW. Today it has crossed 210 GW, with solar leading the surge. The PM Surya Ghar Muft Bijli Yojana is democratizing rooftop solar, offering households 300 free units of electricity while creating new demand for installers, electricians, and maintenance crews. Each rooftop represents both clean power and local livelihoods.

The National Green Hydrogen Mission marks another frontier. Backed by nearly Rs 20,000 crore, it aims to produce 5 million metric tonnes annually by 2030. Beyond energy, it is also a jobs mission—generating roles for electrolyser operators, hydrogen safety specialists, and logistics experts. Much as IT reshaped employment in the 1990s, hydrogen could define India’s next great wave of opportunities.

Turning The Workforce Gap Into A Climate Dividend
Yet scaling ambition requires people. The International Energy Agency estimates that by 2030, clean energy will need 14 million new workers globally. Many advanced economies are already facing shortages of trained technicians.

India’s youth population offers an edge, but only if skills evolve in time. Initiatives such as Skill India and the PM Kaushal Vikas Yojana have trained millions in technical trades. The task ahead is to adapt these frameworks for Net Zero jobs: solar installation and maintenance, EV servicing, compressed biogas entrepreneurship, hydrogen systems, AI-driven monitoring, and biodiversity mapping.

State-level innovation is also promising. Telangana’s Naipunyam portal links young workers directly with green job opportunities. Andhra Pradesh’s Kuppam pilot of 1M1B Green Skills Academy connects classrooms with on-ground solar and biogas clusters. Meghalaya’s biodiversity programs are preparing youth for roles in mapping and conservation, vital for carbon markets and ecosystem resilience.

These efforts show how a demographic dividend can become a climate dividend: population growth converted into planetary value.

Beyond Skills: A National Mindset Shift
But skills alone will not carry the transition. A mindset shift is equally critical. Mission LiFE (Lifestyle for Environment) reframes sustainability as a people’s movement. From discouraging single-use plastics to encouraging public transport, it embeds climate action into everyday behavior.

For India’s youth, this is not about sacrifice but aspiration. Climate-positive behavior increasingly represents opportunity and dignity. Just as International Yoga Day globalized Indian wellness traditions, Mission LiFE has the potential to take Indian sustainability values to the world.

Importantly, the Prime Minister has consistently struck an emotional chord with sustainability, through Swachh Bharat or evocative campaigns like Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam (planting a tree in one’s mother’s name). By rooting climate action in personal sentiment and cultural identity, these initiatives shift sustainability from policy to lived practice, fostering an action-oriented mindset among citizens.

India@78: A Workforce Vision
Three years from now, at India@78, the vision is clear. The country could be the world’s largest solar producer, a top-three hydrogen hub, and a leader in EV adoption. More importantly, it could be the foremost supplier of green talent: technicians, innovators, and entrepreneurs sought after globally as Indian software engineers once were.

If IT once contributed 7 per cent to India’s GDP, the green skills economy could surpass that in the coming decades. Each rooftop solar panel, hydrogen electrolyser, and EV charging station represents more than “green infrastructure”; it is also a pathway for India’s youth.

Equally vital is the rise of youth climate diplomats (young Indians who carry the country’s climate mission to the world). By amplifying their voices on global platforms, India can turn soft diplomacy into a youth-led climate influence strategy, ensuring its story is heard and embraced worldwide.

Closing: From Milestone to Mission
As the Prime Minister marks his 75th birthday, it is worth reflecting not only on achievements but on the direction, India is heading. The enduring contribution of this leadership lies in aligning sustainability with nation-building and linking demographic advantage to planetary need.

The mission for India is clear: to turn the world’s largest youth population into the world’s largest green workforce. To transform demographic dividend into climate dividend. And to ensure that India, already the largest democracy, also becomes the green workforce capital of the world.

Disclaimer: The views expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of the publication