India has released a new expert report aimed at improving the quality, consistency, and international comparability of its national energy statistics. The Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MoSPI) published the report on July 6, 2026, outlining recommendations to strengthen energy data used for policymaking, economic planning, and monitoring the country's energy transition.

The report comes as India expands renewable energy capacity and works toward its long-term net-zero emissions goals. Reliable energy statistics are considered essential for measuring progress, tracking demand, and supporting investment decisions across the energy sector.

Expert Panel Recommends Stronger Energy Data Framework

The Expert Committee on Energy Statistics was chaired by Dr. Rangan Banerjee, Director of IIT Delhi. It included senior officials from energy ministries and experts from research organizations, including TERI and the Alliance for an Energy Efficient Economy.

The committee recommended aligning India's energy statistics with international standards such as the International Standard Industrial Classification (ISIC) Revision 5, the National Industrial Classification (NIC) 2025, and the Standard International Energy Product Classification (SIEC). It also proposed the use of uniform energy conversion factors across ministries to improve consistency in official datasets.

The report reviewed definitions, classifications, estimation methods, and existing data sources. It also identified gaps that affect the accuracy of India's national energy balance.

Biofuels, Coal, And Electricity Data Receive Special Focus

One major recommendation addresses the lack of comprehensive national data on biofuel consumption. The committee proposed a methodology to estimate biofuel use after noting that the United Nations Statistics Division currently estimates biofuels account for about 31% to 34% of India's annual energy consumption in its World Energy Balance publication due to limited national data.

The report also recommends new methods to estimate industry-wise consumption of imported coal and electricity using the Annual Survey of Industries database. It calls on the Bureau of Energy Efficiency to strengthen industrial energy data under the Perform, Achieve and Trade scheme.

Captive Power And EV Electricity Consumption Identified As Key Data Gaps

The committee identified electricity consumed through captive and off-grid generation, along with electricity used by electric vehicles, as important gaps in India's energy database. It proposed an initial methodology for measuring these sectors while recommending further refinement through research and stakeholder consultation.

MoSPI said implementation of the recommendations will require continued coordination among government ministries and institutions. The ministry stated that a harmonized energy statistics system will improve data quality, support evidence-based policymaking, and enhance international comparability of India's energy information.