Which of the following statements with regard to Green Hydrogen is/are correct ? 1. It is decarbonized hydrogen obtained from natural gas reforming combined with carbon capture and storage (CCS). 2. It is produced using electrolysis of water with electricity generated by renewable energy. 3. National Green Hydrogen Mission of India aims for abatement of nearly 50 MMT of annual greenhouse gas emissions by 2030. Select the answer using the code given below :
- (a) 1 only
- (b) 2 and 3 only ✓ UPSC's answer
- (c) 2 only
- (d) 1, 2 and 3
Why the answer is (b)
• Hydrogen is colour-coded by how it is made: grey from natural gas reforming, blue when that process is paired with carbon capture and storage, and green when produced by electrolysis of water using renewable electricity.
• Statement 1 describes blue hydrogen, not green, so it is wrong; statement 2 gives the correct definition of green hydrogen.
• The National Green Hydrogen Mission (January 2023, outlay ₹19,744 crore) targets at least 5 million tonnes of green hydrogen a year by 2030, about 125 GW of associated renewable capacity, and abatement of nearly 50 million tonnes of annual greenhouse-gas emissions — statement 3 is correct.
• Green hydrogen is meant to decarbonise refineries, fertilisers, steel and heavy transport, sectors where direct electrification is hard.
• Hence 2 and 3 only, option (b).
Why the other options are wrong
- (a) 1 only
- Statement 1 describes blue hydrogen, not green.
- (c) 2 only
- Statement 3 is also correct: the Mission targets about 50 MMT of annual emission abatement.
- (d) 1, 2 and 3
- Statement 1 is wrong, so all three cannot be correct.
Asked in the GS Paper I of the UPSC Civil Services Preliminary Examination 2026, held on 24 May 2026. Question and answer key: Union Public Service Commission. Explanation: UPSC Answer Check.