Energy demand by 2050 to go up by 4 times: Natural resources expected to become unmangeable

By Shankar Sharma*

ORF Weekly Energy News Monitor has carried a credible analysis of India' energy profile in the context of the ever escalating multiple global crises. If, as mentioned in the analysis, if India's developmental paradigm takes it to the status as the first or second largest energy consumer, the ecological implications to our people can be horrendous in a BAU scenario.

For example the analysis says: "India’s per person energy consumption is close to the average in Southern African countries (excluding South Africa) of 25.5 GJ and well below the world average of 77 GJ. If energy consumption growth were a race, India would count as a determined competitor slowly approaching the finishing line (achieve per person energy consumption of about 100 GJ required for high development index [HDI])..."

That will be about a 4 times increase in per capita energy consumption, and for a total population which may be more than 150 crore by 2050. The total energy demand by 2050 can be more than 4 times the present energy demand.

The question that should haunt our planners is: how sustainable will such a demand/ supply scenario be, assuming that India will be able to meet such a huge demand growth without facing major calamities between now and 2050. In a business as usual (BAU) scenario the pressure on our natural resources, which is already high, can expected to be unmangeable.

Civil society groups cannot afford to ignore such a scenario, even if our planners cannot be seen to have the required level of dedication/ commitment to plan for such a futuristic scenario. We should do all that is feasible to persuade our authorities to diligently consider such projections for the near future, and to take all steps to address the associated concerns.

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*Power & Climate Policy Analyst

Neville Cardus: The man who turned cricket writing into poetry

By Harsh Thakor* Neville Cardus was one of the most remarkable literary figures of the twentieth century. A prolific English writer and critic, he achieved distinction in two vastly different fields: cricket and classical music. Entirely self-taught, Cardus rose from humble beginnings to become both the cricket correspondent and chief music critic of The Manchester Guardian . His achievements in these contrasting disciplines earned him widespread acclaim and established him as one of the foremost critics of his generation. In February 2025, the cricketing and literary world marked the fiftieth anniversary of his death, which occurred in February 1975.

Ideological shifts and structural realities within India's left-wing insurgency

By Harsh Thakor* The Maoist insurgency in India is arguably at its weakest point since the formation of the Communist Party of India (Maoist) in 2004. Years of sustained counterinsurgency operations, leadership losses, shrinking territorial influence, declining recruitment, and growing technological advantages enjoyed by the state have significantly eroded the movement's operational capabilities.

The Dalit body on screen: Stereotypes, sacrifice, and subjugation in Hindi films

By Dr. Prem Singh* Despite centuries of reformist efforts, from Gandhi and Ambedkar to contemporary activists, the caste system remains deeply embedded in the Indian psyche. One of the primary reasons for this persistence is the religious sanction provided by Brahminical scriptures, which have shaped not only social structures but also cultural and artistic expressions.

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