UPSC Prelims 2026 question on Green Hydrogen Electrolysis CCS

Statement by statement

Statement 1 is not correct: This describes blue hydrogen, not green hydrogen. In blue hydrogen, the raw material is natural gas (mainly methane). When this gas is processed, two things are produced: hydrogen, a useful clean fuel, and carbon dioxide, a greenhouse gas. Normally this carbon dioxide would go into the atmosphere, but in blue hydrogen it is captured and stored underground using Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS). Hydrogen made from natural gas with the harmful carbon captured instead of released is therefore blue hydrogen.

Statement 2 is correct: Green hydrogen is hydrogen produced by splitting water into hydrogen and oxygen using electricity from renewable sources like solar or wind energy.

Statement 3 is correct: The National Green Hydrogen Mission aims to make India a global hub for the production, use, and export of green hydrogen and its derivatives. Under the mission, India targets the production of at least 5 million metric tonnes (MMT) of green hydrogen annually by 2030. The Mission is expected to create over 6 lakh jobs, reduce fossil fuel imports by more than Rs 1 lakh crore, and avoid nearly 50 MMT of greenhouse gas emissions every year by 2030.