Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal today said India has emerged as one of the best-performing G20 nations in meeting sustainability commitments, with renewable energy capacity surging and global partnerships expanding.
Speaking at CII’s 20th Global Sustainability Summit in the Capital, Goyal credited Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s leadership with putting sustainability at the heart of India’s growth journey. “Without Prime Minister Modi’s decisive role, COP21 may not have been a success. He brought the Global South together to make sustainability a shared responsibility,” he remarked.
Highlighting India’s achievements, Goyal said the country had already installed 50 percent renewable energy capacity, well ahead of schedule, and was on course to achieve 500 GW by 2030.
“India now offers round-the-clock renewable power at globally unmatched rates, around Rs4.60–Rs5.00 per kWh,” he said, adding that transparent bidding had cut solar tariffs drastically over the last decade.
The Minister said India’s economic strength and resilience were rooted in sustainability, innovation, and inclusivity. He pointed to the success of the UJALA scheme and urged startups to innovate in areas such as energy efficiency, water harvesting, and waste management. “The Prime Minister’s mantra of Zero Defect, Zero Effect is our commitment to quality and sustainability,” he said.
Calling India the fastest-growing large economy, Goyal said the country’s 7.8 percent GDP growth in Q1 FY26 reflected the collective resolve of 1.4 billion people. “With India contributing 18 percent to global growth and soon to be the world’s third-largest economy, we engage with the world from a position of strength,” he added.
On trade, the Minister noted that India was expanding its footprint through Free Trade Agreements (FTAs) with partners including the UAE, UK, EFTA bloc and Mauritius, while talks were ongoing with the EU, Chile, Peru, New Zealand, and Oman. “We are also in dialogue with the United States for a bilateral trade agreement,” he said.
Free Trade Agreement (FTA) is a pact between two or more countries to reduce or eliminate tariffs, quotas and other trade barriers, making it easier and cheaper to trade goods and services between them.
Criticising developed nations for failing to deliver on their Paris commitments, Goyal said India would continue to lead by example.
“The developed world has let us down badly on financial commitments. Yet India’s future is safe, secure, and resilient because it rests on sustainability, high quality, cost competitiveness, and inclusive growth that reaches the last man at the bottom of the pyramid,” he asserted.
