1. Green steel is emerging as a critical pathway for India’s industrial decarbonisation. Examine the challenges and opportunities associated with scaling green steel production in India.
| Syllabus: General Studies – III : Environmental Pollution and Degradation Science and Technology- Developments and their Applications and Effects in Everyday Life. |
IN NEWS: Transitioning to green steel
Steel production is one of the largest industrial sources of greenhouse gas emissions globally and in India. With India targeting net-zero emissions by 2070, decarbonising the steel sector through green steel that is steel produced using low-carbon technologies such as green hydrogen, renewable energy, and circular processes has become a strategic priority.
Opportunities in Scaling Green Steel
1. Climate Commitments and Net-Zero Goals
- Steel contributes roughly 10–12% of India’s industrial emissions.
- Transition to green steel aligns with India’s commitments under the Paris Agreement and long-term decarbonisation pathways.
- Example: National Green Hydrogen Mission supports hydrogen-based steelmaking.
2. Energy Security and Reduced Import Dependence
- India imports over 50 million tonnes of coking coal annually, exposing the economy to price volatility.
- Green steel reduces dependence on fossil fuels by using renewable energy and hydrogen.
3. Export Competitiveness
- Mechanisms like the EU Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM) impose carbon costs on high-emission imports.
- Green steel can help Indian exports remain competitive in global markets.
4. Innovation and Industrial Modernisation
- Adoption of electric arc furnaces, hydrogen-based reduction, and digital technologies.
- Potential for India to become a global hub for low-carbon manufacturing.
- Example: Development of a Green Steel Taxonomy with star ratings based on emission intensity.
5. Public Procurement as Demand Driver
- Government infrastructure projects can create stable demand.
- Studies show that even a 30% green premium on steel may increase infrastructure project costs by only about 5.5%, which is manageable.
Challenges in Scaling Green Steel
1. High Initial Costs (Green Premium)
- Green hydrogen and renewable-based production technologies remain expensive.
- Requires fiscal incentives, GST rationalisation, and financial support.
2. Technology and Infrastructure Gaps
- Hydrogen-based direct reduced iron (DRI) technology is still evolving.
- Need for renewable energy expansion and storage solutions.
3. Verification and Standardisation Issues
- Lack of reliable systems to certify carbon intensity.
- Procurement officers face difficulty distinguishing green steel from conventional steel.
4. Financing Constraints
- Steel sector investments are capital-intensive.
- Need blended finance and risk-sharing mechanisms.
5. Policy and Institutional Coordination
- Alignment required between ministries (Steel, Finance, Environment).
- Integration with PLI schemes, hydrogen mission, and procurement policies.
Way Forward
- Targeted fiscal incentives and carbon pricing mechanisms.
- Green public procurement mandates to create assured demand.
- Digital traceability through QR-based certification systems.
- Progressive tightening of emission standards (3-star to 5-star benchmarks).
- Pilot projects through large public buyers such as Indian Railways.
Green steel represents both a climate necessity and an economic opportunity for India. By combining technological innovation, policy support, and demand-side measures, India can reduce industrial emissions while enhancing energy security, export competitiveness, and sustainable growth.
| PYQ REFERENCE (2025) Q. What is Carbon Capture, Utilization and Storage (CCUS)? What is the potential role of CCUS in tackling climate change? |
Source:https://www.thehindu.com/opinion/op-ed/transitioning-to-green-steel/article70639991.ece
2. Recent radiocarbon dating studies at Bhirrana indicating that the Indus Valley (Harappan) Civilisation may date back over 8,000 years have revived debates regarding its origins and development. In this context, discuss the salient features of the Indus Valley Civilisation, with special reference to its urban planning, economic structure, and social organisation.
| Syllabus: General Studies – I: Indian Culture – Salient aspects of Art Forms, Literature and Architecture from ancient to modern times. |
IN NEWS: South Asia’s Indus Valley or Harappan Civilisation could be over 8,000 years old, more ancient than Mesopotamia, Egypt or China: Paper
Recent radiocarbon dating studies at Bhirrana (Haryana), located along the Ghaggar-Hakra palaeochannel, suggest that the Indus Valley or Harappan Civilisation may be older than previously assumed, possibly extending beyond 8,000 years. These findings have revived scholarly debates on the origins, evolution, and continuity of one of the world’s earliest urban civilisations.
Salient Features of the Indus Valley Civilisation
1. Urban Planning
The Harappan civilisation is renowned for its advanced and systematic urban planning:
- Grid-pattern layout: Cities such as Harappa, Mohenjo-daro, Dholavira and Kalibangan followed planned layouts with streets intersecting at right angles.
- Standardised construction: Uniform brick sizes indicate centralised planning and standardisation.
- Drainage system: Sophisticated underground drainage with covered drains and soak pits reflected advanced sanitation practices.
- Division of city: Citadel (administrative/ritual area) and lower town (residential and commercial spaces).
- Water management: Wells, reservoirs, and structures like the Great Bath at Mohenjo-daro demonstrate hydraulic engineering.
- Fortifications: Some settlements had defensive or flood-control structures.
The new findings at Bhirrana suggest that early phases of such settlement planning may have begun much earlier than traditionally dated.
2. Economic Structure
The Harappan economy was diversified and well-integrated:
- Agriculture: Cultivation of wheat, barley, millets, and later rice; evidence of crop diversification and adaptation to changing monsoon patterns.
- Animal husbandry: Domestication of cattle, buffalo, sheep and goats.
- Craft production: Bead-making, metallurgy (copper-bronze), pottery, shell and ivory work.
- Trade networks: Extensive internal and external trade with regions like Mesopotamia (Meluhha references).
- Standardised weights and measures: Cubical weights and seals indicate regulated trade and economic administration.
- Urban marketplaces: Evidence of specialised production centres and economic organisation.
Recent research linking crop shifts (from wheat-barley to millets) suggests economic adaptation rather than sudden collapse.
3. Social Organisation
Though the script remains undeciphered, archaeological evidence reveals certain features:
- Relative social equality: Absence of large palaces or monumental royal tombs suggests less hierarchical structures compared to contemporary civilisations.
- Planned settlements: Indicate collective governance or civic authority.
- Craft specialisation: Presence of skilled artisans and occupational groups.
- Standardisation: Uniform cultural practices across a vast region suggest strong socio-cultural integration.
- Religious practices: Evidence of ritual baths, terracotta figurines, proto-Shiva (Pashupati) seals and reverence for nature.
The Indus Valley Civilisation represents a remarkable example of early urbanism characterised by sophisticated planning, diversified economic systems, and organised social structures. Recent findings from Bhirrana not only push back its chronological horizon but also reinforce the view of the civilisation as a dynamic, adaptive society shaped by environmental and socio-economic transitions rather than sudden decline.
| PYQ REFERENCE Q. Discuss the salient features of the Harappan architecture. (2025) |