FROM LPG DEPENDENCY TO RENEWABLE RESILIENCE: INDIA’S CLEAN ENERGY TRANSITION AND SDG 7 IN AN ERA OF GEOPOLITICAL UNCERTAINTY

Abstract

India has made significant progress towards Sustainable Development Goal 7 (SDG 7), which focuses on ensuring affordable, reliable, sustainable, and clean energy for all, through initiatives such as Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana (PMUY), which expanded access to clean cooking fuels and improved household energy conditions. Despite improvements in clean cooking access and government initiatives promoting cleaner fuels, India remains highly dependent on imported Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG), raising concerns over long-term energy security. The 2026 Iran-USA conflict exposed the vulnerability of import-dependent cooking fuel systems and highlighted the risk of LPG supply disruptions. The study examines the relationship between LPG dependency, geopolitical instability, and India’s clean energy transition using a qualitative analysis based on secondary data sources. The findings highlight the importance of renewable and electric cooking alternatives, including induction and solar-based cooking technologies, in strengthening long-term energy resilience. The study further analyses how renewable cooking technologies, policy initiatives, and public awareness can support India’s sustainable energy transition.