“Without strong data systems, trusted verification bodies, and transparent digital registries, Indian companies could lose major buyers, face carbon-linked taxes, or get pushed out of premium markets—not because they’re inefficient, but because they can’t demonstrate their emissions credibly.” Shailendra Singh Rao, Founder & Managing Director at Creduce
India’s Budget 2026 should treat carbon intensity as a serious economic metric, not just another climate headline. Because the truth is that global trade is changing fast. In the coming years, competitiveness won’t be defined only by price and quality—it will be defined by who can prove their products are low-carbon, compliant, and future-ready.
If India wants to protect its exporters and grow its manufacturing leadership, we need real investment in emissions measurement, reporting, and verification (MRV). Without strong data systems, trusted verification bodies, and transparent digital registries, Indian companies could lose major buyers, face carbon-linked taxes, or get pushed out of premium markets—not because they’re inefficient, but because they can’t demonstrate their emissions credibly. And this system must be affordable, especially for MSMEs, which form the backbone of India’s supply chains.
At the same time, Budget 2026 must speed up green industrial upgrades in steel, cement, chemicals, textiles, and mobility. That means funding energy efficiency retrofits, cleaner fuels, electrification, and waste-to-value solutions. But industry can’t do this alone, India needs smart financial support like interest subsidies, credit guarantees, and performance-based incentives that reward verified emissions reductions.
we should build renewable-powered industrial clusters, modern logistics, and clean infrastructure so Indian manufacturing stays reliable and scalable. If carbon intensity becomes India’s new productivity benchmark, our exports won’t just survive, they’ll dominate in a world where low-carbon goods win the trade.
The author is Shailendra Singh Rao, Founder & Managing Director at Creduce
