MAYASIA BUSINESS OUTLOOK9has evolved into a much more inclusive approach that takes into account the political, economic, social, and environmental issues and concerns that are currently being pursued internationally in the energy security policy.The quest for India's energy security could be seen under the context of four availability, accessibility, affordability and acceptability, which is to make energy reachable & accessible to all the sections and sectors at an affordable price within a social and political acceptable carbon-controlled environment. As a result, energy security has emerged as one of the Modi government's top foreign policy priorities. This is significant as the Modi government seeks to transform India into a manufacturing powerhouse through its much-touted 'Make in India' initiatives. The primacy of energy security in Modi's foreign policy is reflected in his record number of high-profile foreign visits, during which he has cut energy deals with energy-rich countries.India's Quest for Energy Security in Asia-PacificThe promise of energy security is enticing, but for an import-dependent country like India, it is no longer a wish, but a critical imperative for an economy on the verge of maturity as a growing one, necessitating serious efforts by the Government of India to improve energy supplies as India faces potentially severe energy supply constraints. In the renewable energy regime, India is emerging as a new normative player. Prime Minister Modi has pursued an unwavering commitment to energy security by building 175 GW of renewable capacity by 2022, and India is committed to combating global warming regardless of what happens in the rest of the world.India's energy policy is being pursued in a much more comprehensive manner in its domestic and international backgrounds to address its fastest-growing energy demand in a competitive geo-political environment. Energy exploration of India in the new regions is putting in direct competition with its other Asian countries.Challenges Faced to Meet the Country's Economic DemandsWith growing concerns about global climate change and political instability in energy-rich regions of the world, India's pursuit of energy security becomes more difficult. India has relied primarily on coal and petroleum for its energy sources, and a shift to renewable energy sources will not be sufficient to meet the country's rising energy demand. The country must look for energy sources that emit less CO2 and provide base load power. Gas and nuclear energy are important in this context. India's gas consumption is significantly lower than the global average. The Modi government has also prioritized increasing gas utilization and transitioning to a gas-based economy.India intends to build gas pipelines to import gas from neighbouring countries. A number of gas pipelines have been proposed and are currently under construction. As some of the proposed gas pipelines will pass through Pakistan and China, the majority of them involve intense geopolitics. The problems of diversification of energy sources for India arise from political volatility, geopolitics of these regions, and above all, it puts India in direct competition with China as the new destination of energy source, which sparks a geopolitical competition and adds more complexities to the existing competition.Final ThoughtsIndia, a developing country, has a wide range of policies in place to ensure a secure and sustainable energy future. If India wants to be considered an emerging economy with global clout, it must ensure that its economic growth is sustainable. Energy security is a critical component for economic growth; without it, every infrastructure will stagnate. INDIA'S ENERGY POLICY IS BEING PURSUED IN A MUCH MORE COMPREHENSIVE MANNER IN ITS DOMESTIC AND INTERNATIONAL BACKGROUNDS TO ADDRESS ITS FASTEST-GROWING ENERGY DEMAND IN A COMPETITIVE GEO-POLITICAL ENVIRONMENT
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