The Times Group’s ET Now Global Business Summit 2026

This is a very critical moment for India’s energy journey. As we move firmly on track to becoming the world’s third-largest economy, that growth is energy-hungry. Today, we are at around 500 gigawatts of installed capacity. By 2047, estimates suggest we could be looking at a grid of nearly 2,000 gigawatts. That is an extraordinary expansion, driven significantly by renewables, especially solar.

But renewables come with intermittency challenges. If we are to power an industrial-scale economy of the size we envision, we need reliable baseload generation. At the same time, the planet is warming, and the global call for decarbonisation grows stronger. Irrespective of geopolitical shifts, low-carbon or zero-carbon energy sources are not optional. They are essential.

Nuclear energy, once sidelined in global conversations, has returned to centre stage. In India, given the scale of our ambitions, it has become a key focus. We are currently at about 9 gigawatts of nuclear capacity, and over the next two decades we aim to scale this more than tenfold to 100 gigawatts. That requires not just ambition, but evolution in technology, supply chains, talent, land acquisition, and commercial frameworks.

A landmark legislation has opened the door to greater private sector participation, which the government recognises as necessary to achieve this scale. At the same time, India consumes nearly 20 percent of the world’s data but has only about 2.5 percent of global data centre capacity. The recent Union Budget’s thrust on data centres underscores the importance of data sovereignty, security, and building a resilient domestic ecosystem. All of this adds further pressure on our energy systems.

There are real questions we must address—on pricing and tariffs, on supply chains, on commercial mechanisms, and on trust. Even as nuclear returns to serious consideration, public confidence must be earned, especially when building at this magnitude. If we are to move beyond 2.5 gigawatts per annum and eventually exceed 5 gigawatts per annum post-2032, it demands coordinated action across government, industry, and society. The scale of the challenge is immense, but so is the opportunity.

• Ambiguity is the new operating environment for CEOs. Navigating fluid global dynamics has become a core leadership capability.
• Resilience is now a strategic differentiator. Organisations that can anticipate, absorb and adapt to shocks will define the next decade.
• Trust is emerging as an economic currency. In a world of rapid digitalisation, trust-driven ecosystems will outperform those built purely on scale or efficiency.
• Innovation must move from the periphery to the core. It can no longer be experimental—it has to be embedded, continuous and enterprise-wide.
• Talent strategies need a reset. Leaders must enable teams to thrive amid constant change, not just manage it.
• Business disruption cycles are compressing. With new and unfamiliar risks emerging, risk intelligence and forward visibility are critical.
• AI represents a generational shift. Its true potential will be realised only when it becomes more human-centric, ethical and responsible.
• Digital and data sovereignty are gaining prominence. Yet, India is uniquely positioned to leverage this moment and accelerate its journey toward Viksit Bharat.