Himachal Pradesh attained full statehood on 25 January 1971. Its administrative system has evolved over time to encompass a wide range of functions, from long-established welfare, revenue and development responsibilities to newer areas such as digital governance, environmental management and climate change.
Critical minerals have emerged as a strategy priority for the World as we expand our energy transition, advanced manufacturing and defence capabilities. Minerals such as lithium, cobalt, nickel, graphite and rare earth elements (REEs) are essential inputs for electric vehicle batteries, renewable energy technologies, permanent magnets, electronics and semiconductors. Their importance, however, extends beyond their economic value. The concentration of mining, refining and processing capacity in a limited number of countries leaves downstream industries vulnerable to geopolitical disruptions, export restrictions and supply shocks.
India's renewable energy transition has largely been driven by solar and onshore wind. Its long coastline and Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) also offer offshore wind potential, which draws on stronger and more consistent wind resources at sea than onshore sites can access. But offshore projects are far more capital-intensive and technically complex, requiring marine surveys, offshore foundations, specialised installation vessels, subsea cables, offshore substations, and dedicated port infrastructure.
Policy UpdatesPurbaa Jagannath Background Despite the significant contribution of micro, small and medium industries to the country’s industrial output, employment and exports, most of them are using old machines, old boilers and old processes with much higher energy consumption than…
India and Singapore completed 60 years of diplomatic relations in 2025, evolving into a strong Indo-Pacific partnership. Singapore supported India’s Look East and Act East policies, while the 2005 CECA strengthened economic ties. Singapore is now one of India’s largest FDI sources, with investments exceeding US$170 billion over two decades (High Commission of India in Singapore, 2026). The relationship was upgraded to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership in September 2024.
The six-day programme, “Understanding the Nuances of Climate Change in the Indian Subcontinent: Cohort 3.0,” organised by IMPRI’s Centre for Environment, Climate Change and Sustainable Development (CECCSD), brought together speakers from different academic and professional backgrounds to discuss the changing climate landscape of India and, more broadly, the wider South Asian region. The sessions covered a wide range of issues, from the science of climate change and sustainable development to energy transitions and climate finance. What made the event particularly relevant was the way these discussions gradually moved from understanding the problem to looking at how the government, institutions, civil societies and communities can respond to it.
Policy UpdateSaachi Saxena Background Environmental policy is moving beyond regulating factories and emissions towards influencing what consumers buy and what firms produce. The Ecomark Rules, 2024, represent this shift in India by attempting to use product information and certification as…