Modi government’s decade of climate action takes centre stage in BJP report

India’s decade-long journey towards environmental sustainability has taken significant space in the BJP’s “11 Years of Seva” report, with the party underscoring key milestones in green energy, biodiversity conservation, and climate diplomacy achieved since Prime Minister Narendra Modi took office in 2014.

The report highlights that under Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s leadership, India met its COP21 target of achieving 40% installed electricity capacity from non-fossil fuel sources ten years ahead of the 2030 deadline. Targets set for Ethanol Blended Petrol under the National Policy on Biofuels were also achieved 5 months ahead of schedule. In the last decade, India’s renewable energy capacity has nearly tripled, with solar energy capacity alone rising by a staggering 3,645%. The country also built the world’s largest solar park—Bhadla Solar Park in Rajasthan—with a capacity of 2,245 MW.

In fact, as of April 2025, India’s installed clean energy capacity has grown 2.9 times compared to 2014. From 76.38 GW in March 2014, it has climbed to 228.28 GW in just 11 years—making India home to the fourth-largest clean energy capacity in the world.

This shift in energy mix is accompanied by a change in messaging. In his address at COP26 in Glasgow, PM Narendra Modi launched the concept of LiFE—Lifestyle for Environment—urging citizens across the world to adopt environment-conscious practices in their everyday lives. From cutting plastic use to choosing energy-efficient appliances, the message was clear: climate action must begin at home.

One of the most tangible wildlife conservation wins has been the doubling of India’s tiger population to 3,682 as per the 2022 census, now representing 75% of the world’s wild tiger population. Project Cheetah, the world’s first inter-continental translocation of large wild carnivores, also saw cheetahs return to India after 70 years, with cubs born on Indian soil in 2023. Although, since the translocation, a total of 8 adult cheetahs and 3 cubs have died.

Under the flagship UJALA scheme, 36.87 crore LED bulbs have been distributed, leading to substantial savings and a reduction in CO₂ emissions. Meanwhile, PM-KUSUM aims to solarise 49 lakh agricultural pumps, reinforcing India’s commitment to green agriculture.

The government has also leaned into waste-to-wealth solutions. The GOBARdhan scheme, launched in 2018 under Swachh Bharat Mission (SBM-G), focuses on scientific management of cattle dung and agricultural waste to produce biogas and compost. This has benefited entrepreneurs, SHGs, and gram panchayats by creating rural energy and compost systems.

Furthermore, initiatives such as the International Solar Alliance (ISA)—envisioned to mobilise $1 trillion in solar investments by 2030—and the Prime Minister’s Panchamrit goals (announced at COP26) position India as a proactive climate actor rather than a reactive player.

On the conservation front, the country increased the number of Ramsar wetland sites from 26 in 2014 to 85 in 2025. Thirteen Indian beaches now boast the prestigious Blue Flag certification, and Jammu and Kashmir’s Palli village has been declared India’s first carbon-neutral panchayat.

A mass plantation initiative under the “Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam” campaign led to the planting of over 142 crore trees, signalling a push toward carbon sequestration and citizen involvement.

Importantly, the BJP report stresses that environmental protection need not come at the cost of economic development. “Development and environmental protection can go hand in hand,” it says, citing reforms to environmental laws that have improved both compliance and ease of doing business.