India has taken a significant step to accelerate its green hydrogen ambitions by launching the second call for proposals under the Research and Development (R&D) Scheme of the National Green Hydrogen Mission (NGHM).
Announced by the Ministry of New & Renewable Energy (MNRE) on July 14, 2025, this initiative underscores India’s determination to build domestic technological capacity in green hydrogen production, storage, transport, and utilization.
With ₹400 crore of the NGHM’s ₹19,744 crore outlay dedicated to R&D, the scheme reflects a strategic pivot toward indigenous innovation. The move comes at a critical juncture as India targets energy self-reliance and positions itself as a competitive player in the global green hydrogen economy, currently dominated by Europe and East Asia.
The scheme, operational since March 15, 2024, builds on the foundation laid by the R&D roadmap released in October 2023. The first call for proposals earlier this year resulted in 23 selected projects, establishing a precedent for targeted investment in applied research. This second call invites new applications and resubmissions from previously non-selected applicants, signaling an inclusive and iterative approach to project selection.
A central aim of the initiative is to close the gap between lab-scale innovation and commercial deployment. Proposals are required to demonstrate a minimum starting Technology Readiness Level (TRL) of 4, targeting a progression to TRL 7 or above, with a strong emphasis on scalability, affordability, and safety.
The scope of eligible applicants is wide, including academic institutions, government bodies, public sector undertakings, private research centers, and industry stakeholders. To encourage industry-academia collaboration, consortium-based applications are strongly favored, with academic partners eligible for full funding and private entities for up to 80% of project costs.
Proposals will be assessed based on several factors: clarity and relevance of objectives, technical feasibility, innovation potential, expected deliverables, and alignment with national priorities. In particular, applicants are required to articulate both the starting and target TRLs and demonstrate the potential for commercialization and long-term sustainability.
Notably, the scheme also reflects India’s intention to promote applied and translational research over pure academic inquiry, a shift designed to accelerate near-term deployment. The emphasis on practical viability comes amid growing global skepticism over the pace of green hydrogen scale-up—only 7% of announced projects globally have moved beyond the planning stage, according to recent industry data.
The MNRE has opened the submission window from July 14 to August 21, 2025, through its dedicated research portal. Official communication has been dispatched to State Nodal Agencies, AICTE, UGC, IITs, NITs, and Central Public Sector Units to ensure broad participation.
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