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India has characterised shale gas as a transitional energy source and is planning to commercially scale the extraction of shale gas through hydraulic fracturing (fracking). Currently, India has announced 56 fracking projects spread across six Indian states. In doing so, exploration of shale gas resources has started in India. The regulations that govern conventional extraction processes are also applicable to fracking activities. The conflation of fracking with conventional drilling processes in India's regulatory approach may have implications for the country's water security, given the unique risks that fracking poses to water resources. This article analyses India's regulatory framework applicable to fracking-specific water (FSW) issues. In doing so, this article identifies four key paradigms of water security and maps these key paradigms with the US fracking experience, identifying four key FSW issues. Subsequently, this article evaluates if India's multilevel regulatory system regulates the identified four FSW issues. In conclusion, this research finds that before commercially scaling fracking operations, India must conduct a scientific inquiry on the impact of proposed fracking projects on its water resources. In doing so, it must re-examine its regulations at the federal and state levels to comprehensively cover FSW issues. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

India's spectrum management policies have transitioned from administrative allocation of spectrum to market-based assignment methods through auction, technological neutrality of licenses, and stronger ownership rights. Yet, the mobile service market in India has experienced financial distress, exit of operators, and growing concentration. 5G technologies will require wider access to spectrum resources, capital investment, and business innovation. This article examines how regulatory policies for availability and pricing of spectrum have impacted India's mobile markets. Based on a comparative analysis of international spectrum policy trends, it concludes that India's spectrum regime would require essential policy changes to meet the requirements of 5G. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Renewable energy-based off-grid projects have played a crucial role in Sri Lanka's universal electrification effort. The paper, in this context, unravels two crucial and quite interrelated aspects of decentralised off-grid electrification in the country: a) it critically analyses the off-grid electricity sector development and assesses its contribution to the universal electrification in the country and; b) it examines the current set of challenges associated with the off-grid electrification in the larger context of massive grid expansion. A mix of quantitative and qualitative research methods is employed as tools of analysis. The paper brings out several policy-relevant findings. Strategic policy interventions coupled with targeted policy goals, robust community-centric management structures, well-designed credit systems, and well-structured capacity-building initiatives are identified as key leveraging points for the success of off-grid electrification projects. The techno-economic analysis of an existing micro-hydro project reveals that there exist opportunities for more productive use of existing capacity. Grid interconnection of off-grid energy projects emerges as a major challenge beset with a whole gamut of technical, legal, regulatory, financial, and social conundrums. Interestingly, the intensity of such challenges differs across ownership types. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The hydraulic fracturing (fracking) and groundwater contamination debate started as soon as the commercial production of shale gas began in the United States. Since then there have been contrasting studies that have analysed the risk of groundwater contamination in carrying out fracking activities. In India, fracking is at its initial stage and therefore considering the groundwater contamination probabilities at the proposed sites, the Indian legislators/regulators may invoke the precautionary principle. This paper analyses the contrasting research over the probability of groundwater contamination, especially through methane migration, at fracking sites. Further, this paper examines the need for applying the precautionary principle, considering the scientific uncertainty prevailing over methane migration and groundwater contamination, to the Indian legal regime applicable to fracking activities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Providing basic minimum energy services has become a real challenge for developing countries of the world. India encounters the problem of provisioning basic minimum electricity services to a section of her population. Renewable energy-based decentralised systems have emerged as a viable electrification option for many developing countries of the world, particularly for rural and remote areas of the country. This study explores the replication and scaling-up of potential of such mini-grids in the least electrified states of India by considering a set of evaluation criteria i.e. grid-extension option, renewable energy resource potential, electrification rate, organisational strength, presence or absence of technical support system, and ease of access to banking services. Overall rankings suggest that top 20% districts offer good business potential for private investors to venture into the mini-grid market. However, the concern lies with the districts placed at the bottom, which require specific government interventions through appropriate policy, regulatory and financial support. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article sheds light on multi-level climate governance in the particular context of India and scrutinizes the role India’s subnational states play in climate policy. It uses an analytical lens that combines multi-level climate governance and “laboratories of experimentation”. The first part of the article clarifies the analytical concept of the article and deals with the phenomenon of states experimentation in multi-level climate governance structures from a theoretical background. The second part of the article explores India’s multi-level climate governance structure and sheds light on the role of India’s states therein with specific emphasis on the development of renewable energy. The third part looks at the multi-tiered climate action planning processes, and considers how central top-down policies and subnational bottom-up approaches are linked. Asking whether the Indian states do not only act as mere implementers of federal top-down policies, but instead create own initiatives for climate action. The article examines state climate action plans with particular focus on renewable energy initiatives integrated in the plans by asking whether the Indian states do not act solely as mere implementers of federal top-down policies, but instead create their own initiatives for climate action, much like the German Bundesländer, for example. Based on document analysis and interviews the article explores whether India’s states experiment with individual approaches to develop renewable energy which are, tailored to regional specifics, or whether they mainly implement national objectives. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Competition in the electricity industry in India is primarily intended to enhance operational efficiency. With the enactment of Electricity Act 2003, competition got a new nomenclature and thrust. The paper conducts an exploratory analysis of the state of competition in the Indian power sector in the context of reform and restructuring. Evolving trends and patterns of competitive mechanisms are discussed and analysed. The analysis reveals that competition, as it evolved over the last decade or so, reflects a growing trend of an efficient, liquid, and complete market. The paper also identifies certain key anomalies and distortions inhibiting the seamless growth of competition. More action is required on certain directions, such as enhancing the liquidity of the market, addressing transmission congestion and open access problems, controlling market power, strengthening the role of regulators, and importantly, addressing political economy concerns. It concludes that in order to carry forward the momentum, a cautious approach needs to be adopted and necessary ancillary measures are to be undertaken. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Agriculture sector being the backbone of the Indian economy always receives prioritized attention by the policy makers and planners. The age old debate between energy-water nexus has received a renewed thrust due to emergence of solarized irrigation systems for the agriculture sector in the country. The present study, develops a model innovatively by combining a bottom-up approach with top-down data to understand the future water and energy requirements for agriculture sector under three scenarios till 2030 for five major agrarian states, namely Haryana, Punjab, Maharashtra, Rajasthan and Tamil Nadu. Estimates are made to understand the benefits accrued due to solarlization of existing pumps as well as by use of energy efficient pumps. Results indicate that around INR 76 billion could be saved by all the five states together due to reduction of electricity subsidy alone if such transitions are realized. Other benefits are viewed in terms of reduction in energy costs, reduction in CO2 emissions, and efficient use of water for irrigation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]