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India is both a major energy producer and consumer. It currently ranks as the 7th largest energy producer in the world, accounting for 2.49 percent of the world’s total annual energy production. It is also the 5th largest energy consumer in the world, accounting for 3.45 percent of the world’s total annual energy consumption. However, owing to its massive population-estimated presently at 1.2 billion which accounts for 16.4 percent of world population India’s percent of world population India’s per capita energy consumption is one of the lowest in the world. Since independence in 1947, the country has seen significant expansion in energy use with a shift from noncommercial to commercial sources. The demand for energy, particularly for commercial energy has been growing rapidly with the growth of the economy changes in the demographic structure rising urbanization socio economic development and the desire for attaining and sustaining self-reliance in vital sectors of the economy. India is short of most energy resources and therefore the present energy scenario is not satisfactory. The power supply position prevailing in the country is characterized by persistent shortages and unreliability and also high prices for industrial consumers. India’s oil reserves amount to 0.5 percent of the global reserves. Due to the stagnating domestic production of crude oil, India imports approximately 70 percent of its oil needs, much of it from the Middle East. Its dependence on imported oil is growing steadily. This naturally raises concerns about energy security. These concerns have been exacerbated by recent movements in international oil prices. Energy is a vital input into production and if India is to maintain, and possibly improve the current growth rate of around 9 percent, it must ensure reliable availability of energy particularly electric power and petroleum products at internationally competitive prices. India cannot compete effectively in world markets unless critical energy inputs are available in adequate quantities and at appropriate prices. This book provides a fairly exhaustive account of the current energy scenario in India. It also focuses on the policies and programmes of the Government of India to deal with the rapidly growing demand for energy in the wake of economic liberalization and globalization of the Indian economy. Areas covered for description and analysis include electricity, coal petroleum and natural gas, renewable energy sources (bio-fuels, solar, wind, small hydro power, and hydrogen) atomic power, energy conservation and energy environment linkages. About the Author Dr. Rishi Muni Dwivedi is currently Secretary General of the Indian Wind Power Association (IWPA), Chennai. His job profile includes interacting with Central and State Electricity Regulatory Commissions, Ministry of Finance, Ministry of Power, Ministry of New and Renewable Energy, Ministry of Environment and Forests, Indian Renewable Energy Development Agency, Planning Commission of India, Electricity Boards, Confederation of Indian Industry and wind power developers. He is also the editor of Windpro, a monthly magazine on wind power published under the aegis of IWPA. Dr. Dwivedi holds M.Sc. (Agriculture) and Ph.D degrees. His professional qualifications include C.A.I.I.B., Certificate in Rural Banking from Indian Institute of Banking and Finance, Mumbai and Certificate in Project Planning Centre, Bradford, U.K. He is also an Associate of Indian Institute of Banking and Finance, Mumbai. He was with Indian Overseas Bank for 35 years as officer in various capactities and took retirement from the post of Assistant General Manager. He has to his credit a number of publications on various facets of the Indian economy.