UPSC Prelims 2026Question 45Environment

Which of the following statements with regard to Green Hydrogen is/are correct ?
1. It is decarbonized hydrogen obtained from natural gas reforming combined with carbon capture and storage (CCS).
2. It is produced using electrolysis of water with electricity generated by renewable energy.
3. National Green Hydrogen Mission of India aims for abatement of nearly 50 MMT of annual greenhouse gas emissions by 2030.
Select the answer using the code given below:

Options

(a)1 only
(b)2 and 3 only
(c)2 only
(d)1, 2 and 3

Correct answer: b

Decision rule

Hydrogen is classified by how it is made: renewable-powered electrolysis is green; natural-gas reforming with carbon capture is blue, not green.

Explanation

Correct Answer

(b) 2 and 3 only

Explanation of the Correct Answer

Statement 1: It is decarbonized hydrogen obtained from natural gas reforming combined with carbon capture and storage.

Incorrect.

Hydrogen obtained from natural gas reforming with carbon capture and storage is generally called Blue Hydrogen, not Green Hydrogen.
In this method, natural gas is used as the feedstock, and the carbon dioxide produced during the process is captured and stored.
Since fossil fuel is still used, it is not classified as Green Hydrogen.

Statement 2: It is produced using electrolysis of water with electricity generated by renewable energy.

Correct.

Green Hydrogen is produced by splitting water into hydrogen and oxygen through electrolysis.
The electricity used for electrolysis comes from renewable energy sources such as solar, wind, hydropower or other non-fossil sources.
Since the process avoids fossil fuel-based emissions, it is called Green Hydrogen.

Statement 3: National Green Hydrogen Mission of India aims for abatement of nearly 50 MMT of annual greenhouse gas emissions by 2030.

Correct.

India’s National Green Hydrogen Mission aims to make India a global hub for production, use and export of Green Hydrogen.
The Mission targets Green Hydrogen production capacity of at least 5 MMT per annum by 2030.
The Government of India states that nearly 50 MMT per annum of CO₂ emissions are expected to be averted by 2030 under the Mission. (Press Information Bureau)

Therefore, statements 2 and 3 only are correct.

Why Other Options Are Incorrect

Option	Verdict	Explanation
(a) 1 only	Incorrect	Statement 1 describes Blue Hydrogen, not Green Hydrogen.
(b) 2 and 3 only	Correct	Green Hydrogen is produced through renewable-energy-based electrolysis, and India’s Mission targets abatement of nearly 50 MMT annual emissions by 2030.
(c) 2 only	Incorrect	Statement 2 is correct, but statement 3 is also correct as per the National Green Hydrogen Mission target.
(d) 1, 2 and 3	Incorrect	Statement 1 is incorrect because natural gas reforming with CCS refers to Blue Hydrogen.

Relevant Supplementary Information

Types of Hydrogen by Production Method

Type of Hydrogen	Production Method	Carbon Emission Profile	Key Point
Grey Hydrogen	Natural gas reforming without carbon capture	High emissions	Most common conventional hydrogen
Blue Hydrogen	Natural gas reforming with carbon capture and storage	Lower than grey, but not zero	Statement 1 describes this
Green Hydrogen	Electrolysis of water using renewable electricity	Very low / near-zero operational emissions	Correct definition in statement 2
Brown Hydrogen	Coal gasification using lignite / brown coal	Very high emissions	Carbon-intensive
Black Hydrogen	Coal gasification using bituminous coal	Very high emissions	Carbon-intensive
Pink Hydrogen	Electrolysis using nuclear power	Low-carbon but not renewable-based
Turquoise Hydrogen	Methane pyrolysis	Produces solid carbon instead of CO₂	Emerging pathway
Yellow Hydrogen	Electrolysis using solar energy or grid electricity, depending on usage	Varies by electricity source	Definition varies across sources

Type of Hydrogen	Production Method	Energy / Feedstock Used	Emission Profile	Important Point
Grey Hydrogen	Steam methane reforming	Natural gas	High emissions	Most common conventional hydrogen
Blue Hydrogen	Natural gas reforming with carbon capture and storage	Natural gas + CCS	Lower than grey, but not zero	Statement 1 in the question describes this
Green Hydrogen	Electrolysis of water using renewable electricity	Solar, wind, hydro or other renewable energy	Very low / near-zero operational emissions	Correct definition of Green Hydrogen
Brown Hydrogen	Coal gasification	Lignite / brown coal	Very high emissions	Highly carbon-intensive
Black Hydrogen	Coal gasification	Bituminous coal	Very high emissions	Highly carbon-intensive
Pink Hydrogen	Electrolysis using nuclear power	Nuclear energy	Low-carbon	Not renewable-based Green Hydrogen
Turquoise Hydrogen	Methane pyrolysis	Natural gas	Potentially low-carbon if powered cleanly	Produces solid carbon instead of CO₂
Yellow Hydrogen	Electrolysis using solar or grid electricity	Meaning varies by source	Depends on electricity source	Term is not uniformly used

National Green Hydrogen Mission: Key Facts

Parameter	Details
Approved by	Union Cabinet
Approval year	2023
Nodal Ministry	Ministry of New and Renewable Energy
Core aim	Make India a global hub for production, use and export of Green Hydrogen
2030 production target	At least 5 MMT per annum of Green Hydrogen
Associated renewable energy capacity	About 125 GW
Expected investment	Over ₹8 lakh crore
Expected jobs	Over 6 lakh
Fossil fuel import reduction	Over ₹1 lakh crore
Expected emission abatement	Nearly 50 MMT per annum by 2030
Key scheme component	Strategic Interventions for Green Hydrogen Transition Programme, or SIGHT

The official Cabinet approval note mentions that the Mission is expected to bring over ₹8 lakh crore in investments, create over 6 lakh jobs, add about 125 GW of renewable energy capacity and avert nearly 50 MMT per annum of CO₂ emissions by 2030. (Press Information Bureau)

Key Takeaways from the Tables

Point	Explanation
Green Hydrogen = renewable electrolysis	It is made by splitting water using electricity from renewable sources.
Natural gas + CCS = Blue Hydrogen	This is the trap in statement 1.
India’s 2030 target is important	At least 5 MMT Green Hydrogen production capacity and nearly 50 MMT annual emissions abatement.
Hydrogen colour codes are production-based	The colour depends on feedstock and energy source, not the physical colour of hydrogen.
Green Hydrogen is crucial for hard-to-abate sectors	It can help decarbonise steel, fertilisers, refineries, shipping and heavy transport.

Point	Explanation
Green Hydrogen = renewable electrolysis	This is the most important definition.
Natural gas + CCS = Blue Hydrogen	This was the incorrect statement in the question.
India’s Mission target is twofold	At least 5 MMT Green Hydrogen production and nearly 50 MMT annual emissions abatement by 2030.
Hydrogen is not automatically clean	Its climate value depends on how it is produced.
Green Hydrogen is useful for hard-to-abate sectors	It is especially relevant for fertilisers, refineries, steel, shipping and heavy transport.

Context and Current Relevance

Green Hydrogen is important for decarbonising sectors where direct electrification is difficult.
India’s National Green Hydrogen Mission links clean energy, industrial decarbonisation, export competitiveness and energy security.
The main exam trap is to distinguish Green Hydrogen from Blue Hydrogen.

Table: Green Hydrogen — Key Features

Feature	Details
Basic meaning	Hydrogen produced using renewable energy
Main production method	Electrolysis of water
Raw material	Water
Energy source	Renewable electricity
Main output	Hydrogen and oxygen
Carbon emission profile	Very low / near-zero operational emissions
Major advantage	Helps decarbonise hard-to-abate sectors
Major limitation	High production cost, storage difficulty and infrastructure requirement
Important use cases	Fertilisers, refineries, steel, shipping, heavy transport, energy storage
Main exam trap	Natural gas reforming with CCS is Blue Hydrogen, not Green Hydrogen

Table: National Green Hydrogen Mission — Key Facts

Parameter	Details
Mission	National Green Hydrogen Mission
Country	India
Approved in	2023
Nodal Ministry	Ministry of New and Renewable Energy
Core objective	Make India a global hub for production, use and export of Green Hydrogen
2030 production target	At least 5 MMT per annum of Green Hydrogen
Renewable energy capacity addition	About 125 GW
Expected investment	Over ₹8 lakh crore
Expected employment	Over 6 lakh jobs
Expected fossil fuel import reduction	Over ₹1 lakh crore
Expected emission abatement	Nearly 50 MMT per annum by 2030
Important component	SIGHT Programme
Full form of SIGHT	Strategic Interventions for Green Hydrogen Transition

Table: Green Hydrogen vs Blue Hydrogen

Basis	Green Hydrogen	Blue Hydrogen
Production method	Electrolysis of water	Natural gas reforming with carbon capture and storage
Feedstock	Water	Natural gas
Energy source	Renewable electricity	Fossil fuel-based natural gas
Carbon capture requirement	Not required for production process	Required to reduce CO₂ emissions
Emission profile	Very low / near-zero operational emissions	Lower than grey hydrogen, but not zero
Classification logic	Based on renewable energy use	Based on fossil fuel use with CCS
Climate suitability	Stronger decarbonisation option	Transitional/low-carbon option
Question relevance	Statement 2 describes this	Statement 1 describes this

Table: Green Hydrogen Applications in Hard-to-Abate Sectors

Sector	How Green Hydrogen Can Help
Fertiliser industry	Can be used to produce green ammonia
Oil refineries	Can replace grey hydrogen in refining processes
Steel industry	Can be used as a reducing agent in green steel production
Shipping	Can support green ammonia or hydrogen-based marine fuels
Heavy transport	Can be used in fuel cells for long-distance transport
Power storage	Can store surplus renewable energy for later use
Chemicals	Can support low-carbon chemical production
Aviation	Can indirectly support synthetic fuels, though still technologically challenging

Table: Similar Prelims-Trap Facts on Hydrogen

Statement / Theme	Correct Understanding	Common Trap
Green Hydrogen	Produced by electrolysis using renewable energy	Confusing it with Blue Hydrogen
Blue Hydrogen	Produced from natural gas with CCS	Calling it Green Hydrogen
Grey Hydrogen	Produced from natural gas without CCS	Assuming all hydrogen is clean
Pink Hydrogen	Produced using nuclear-powered electrolysis	Calling it Green because emissions are low
Hydrogen colour code	Refers to production pathway	Thinking hydrogen physically has different colours
Green Hydrogen Mission	Targets at least 5 MMT production by 2030	Confusing MMT hydrogen target with emissions-abatement target
Emission abatement	Nearly 50 MMT annually by 2030	Confusing it with 5 MMT production target
SIGHT Programme	Supports Green Hydrogen transition	Confusing it with solar manufacturing scheme only
Hard-to-abate sectors	Steel, fertilisers, refineries, shipping	Thinking only electricity sector needs decarbonisation

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