Union Environment, Forest and Climate Change Minister Bhupender Yadav on Wednesday addressed the Special Plenary on “Green Growth: Aligning Sustainability with Competitiveness” at CII IndiaEdge 2025 in New Delhi, highlighting India’s accelerated push toward a sustainable and globally competitive economy.
Speaking at the event, Yadav said that clean industrialisation is “not a constraint but a catalyst for economic expansion, innovation, resilience, and future prosperity.” He emphasised that decarbonising India’s manufacturing sector is essential for strengthening export competitiveness and mitigating future carbon-related trade barriers.
The Minister underlined India’s growth vision under Viksit Bharat@2047, noting strong economic fundamentals and rapid progress in sustainable development. He also appreciated the role of the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) in shaping policy reforms and enhancing collaboration between industry and government.
Yadav detailed several recent government initiatives aimed at accelerating green industrial transformation. Highlighting the GST 2.0 reforms, he stated that reduced tax rates—slashed from 12% to 5%—for renewable energy equipment, biodegradable plastics, effluent treatment plants and electric vehicles reinforce the government’s commitment to green growth.
He urged industries to leverage this financial incentive by investing in green manufacturing, adopting eco-friendly supply chains and scaling clean technologies to build global competitiveness.
He also cited flagship initiatives including:
- The Scheme to Promote Manufacturing of Sintered Rare Earth Permanent Magnets (REPM)
- National Critical Mineral Mission 2025
- Revised Green Credit Programme
- Environment Audit Rules 2025
Yadav called for deeper industry participation to drive India’s sustainability ambitions while strengthening its competitive position globally.
Sharing insights from his return from CoP30, the Minister said the conference outcomes aligned with India’s priorities. He noted that the 29 decisions adopted by consensus addressed key areas such as climate finance, technology, unilateral trade measures and just transition pathways. He also highlighted the creation of the Technology Implementation Programme and a dedicated institutional mechanism for just transition.
Emphasising the role of Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) and circular economy systems, Yadav said these frameworks can formalise informal recycling sectors, boost revenues and potentially create 33 lakh green jobs. He encouraged industries to adopt voluntary commitments and lauded CII’s efforts in advancing circularity through proposals like an output-based Circular Economy PLI and Green Public Procurement frameworks.
Calling for stronger collaboration across R&D, MSMEs and green manufacturing, the Minister said India’s transition to a green economy offers “unprecedented opportunities” to build a sustainable and globally competitive industrial ecosystem.
He concluded by reiterating India’s commitment to an inclusive and resilient development trajectory, saying:
“Our journey toward Viksit Bharat@2047 is not just about growth; it is about sustainable prosperity. Together, we will define a path where sustainability is an opportunity, not a constraint.”
Dignitaries present included CII DG Chandrajit Banerjee, Shiv Siddhant Narayan Kaul, Chairman, CII National Committee on Environment, and Masood Alam Mallick, Chairman, CII National Committee on Waste-to-Worth.
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