Theme: Energy | Are forests the missing piece in India’s climate plan?

In this episode of the State of the Economy podcast, businessline’s Rishi Ranjan Kala talks to Professor Ashwini Chhatre, Executive Director, Bharti Institute of Public Policy at Indian School of Business (ISB) about how India’s green energy transition can and must include its poorest citizens, particularly those living in and around forest areas. Chhatre argues that bioenergy is not just important but “extremely critical” to India's decarbonisation journey. He explains why forest lands—covering 23% of India—must be re-integrated into the production economy in a sustainable, community-driven way. He makes a strong case for forest lands—especially degraded lands with little or no tree cover—to be repurposed for bamboo plantations, which offer carbon sequestration, flood control, and community income. Chhatre also discusses the need for community ownership to prevent overexploitation of forest resources and ensure long-term sustainability. Drawing on decades of research and active policy work, he calls for reforms in subsidies, outdated regulations like transit permits, and a mindset shift away from a narrow focus on farmers to a broader recognition of India’s diversified livelihood economy.