India Proves It: Fast Development Can Still Be Fair and Green

India is emerging as a clear example of how a nation can grow economically while ensuring social inclusion, according to a senior UNDP official, Haoliang Xu. He said, “the India growth story is not only about economic progress but also about using technology and participatory governance to ensure that development objectives are achieved, and no one is left behind”.

In an interview with PTI, Xu said that India's commitment to climate adaptation, renewable energy and inclusive digital finance offers a blueprint for balancing growth with sustainability. India continues to shape "development pathways" that are both economically sound and climate responsible.

Haoliang Xu visited India to explore new opportunities for cooperation, especially in digital transformation and initiatives related to climate.

The country's commitment to just transitions, climate adaptation, renewable energy and inclusive digital finance offers a blueprint for balancing growth with sustainability," he said. "We can work together to align development objectives, development financing from all sources, and effective, accountable and inclusive institutional capacity even more closely”.

The UNDP chief said India has proved that fast development can go hand in hand with deliberate investments in people, especially those who have been left behind.

"As the leading voice of the Global South, India is helping translate local success stories into global lessons through South-South Cooperation, sharing not only its tools and technology but also the frameworks that make them work," he said.

Xu emphasized initiatives like MGNREGA, or Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act, and Ayushman Bharat, stating that both provide income security and social protection.

According to the report from International Energy Agency IEA World Energy Outlook 2025, India has reached 50% of its electricity grid, which came from non-fossil fuel sources in 2025, mainly because India has invested in solar and wind energy, which is helping India to move closer to reduce dependency on coal and oil.

UNFCCC also featured India's NICRA, an initiative launched by ICAR in 2011. The project supports the National Mission for Sustainable Agriculture and is seen as a low-cost climate-adaptation model that can be replicated by other countries. The above instances validate Xu's opinion that while pursuing growth, India is shouldering its due responsibility regarding the environment and has come up with some practical models that other developing countries can emulate.