Srinivas Krishnaswamy, an economist with more than 15 years of experience in environmental policy and sustainable development, has been at the helm of Vasudha Foundation India as CEO since its founding in 2010.
The Delhi-based think tank and clean energy market enabler actively collaborates with central and state governments including Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, and Odisha to design and implement data-driven, evidence-based clean energy, electric mobility, and climate action strategies.
Vasudha Foundation’s role in delivering state-level net-zero roadmaps, stakeholder engagement, and capacity-building initiatives helps to promote affordable, 24×7, clean, and sustainable energy across India.
Recent successes include advancing Uttar Pradesh’s green energy roadmap and shaping electric vehicle policies, underscoring the Foundation’s trusted reputation in India’s net-zero transition.
Steering India’s Energy Future with Expertise
Srinivas Krishnaswamy’s leadership of Vasudha Foundation springs from his extensive background in economics and environmental sustainability.
With an MA in Economics, he previously led Greenpeace India’s Climate and Energy Campaign and worked with global organizations like the World Bank, United Nations Environment Programme, Asian Development Bank, and M.S. Swaminathan Research Foundation.
He has been instrumental in fostering research, policy advocacy, and sustainable development initiatives that place environmental justice and equitable access at their core.
Under Krishnaswamy, Vasudha Foundation has positioned itself as a unique practitioner bridging grassroots concerns and high-level policy formulation.
The Foundation’s projects reflect a multifaceted approach: developing robust climate data repositories and analytical tools like the India Climate and Energy Dashboard; assisting states with climate action plans tailored to local energy profiles and social conditions; and implementing capacity-building programmes that empower state departments, regulators, and communities to take ownership of clean energy transitions.
His vision links energy access with poverty alleviation and sustainable livelihoods, promoting a just and inclusive energy revolution.
Vasudha Foundation’s Role in Transforming India’s Clean Energy Landscape
Founded in 2010, Vasudha Foundation works across nine Indian states and collaborates closely with national institutions like NITI Aayog and multiple state renewable energy agencies.
Its technical and analytical services include sector-specific assessments that guide optimal net-zero pathways, tailored policy frameworks, and replication strategies to fast-track clean energy adoption.
Vasudha’s wide-ranging remit covers renewable power, electric mobility transition, industrial decarbonization including green hydrogen feasibility studies and energy efficiency strategies.
One flagship initiative includes a formal partnership with Uttar Pradesh New and Renewable Energy Development Agency to drive the state’s green energy roadmap through policy support, training, and adoption of renewable technologies. Similarly, Vasudha contributed to Madhya Pradesh’s Electric Vehicle Policy 2025, strengthening frameworks for electric mobility promotion.
Importantly, Vasudha Foundation champions equitable and inclusive energy transitions by mainstreaming dialogue on just transition landscapes, ensuring that climate action addresses social equity, livelihood security, and institutional capacity.
Its reports and knowledge products spotlight financial, social, and governance mechanisms, fostering ecosystems where MSMEs, workers, and communities thrive alongside decarbonization efforts.
This comprehensive approach enhances India’s ability to meet its Paris Agreement commitments ahead of schedule, with 51% of India’s power capacity now from non-fossil sources as of August 2025.
Strategic Collaborations and Policy Impact
Vasudha Foundation’s impact extends through partnerships with ministries, development agencies, and industry groups influencing national and sub-national climate policy.
Its Greenhouse Gas Platform India, endorsed by the Ministry of Environment, Forests, and Climate Change, exemplifies its authority in greenhouse gas emissions data provision and transparency.
The pan-India Climate and Energy Dashboard has become a vital resource for policymakers to visualize and analyze indicators on energy transition progress.
The Foundation’s institutional strengthening efforts focus on enhancing internal technical expertise, harnessing AI-powered tools for data analysis and impact modeling, and expanding outreach to states showing emerging interest in clean tech innovation.
By addressing critical policy and investment readiness issues such as crafting bankable detailed project reports for green hydrogen deployment Vasudha ensures that states’ climate ambitions translate into actionable projects.
The Logical Indian’s Perspective
Vasudha Foundation and Srinivas Krishnaswamy’s leadership illustrate the power of evidence-based policy blended with inclusive, multi-stakeholder engagement for effective climate action. At a pivotal moment for India’s sustainable development, the Foundation’s success highlights how blending data transparency, capacity building, and social equity can accelerate a just energy transition.
This story encourages broader replication of Vasudha’s model across all Indian states and sectors to scale impact. India’s diverse landscapes and communities require nuanced, locally adapted strategies rooted in empathy and cooperation. How can Indian policymakers, civil society, and industry foster such partnerships and innovations to achieve a cleaner, kinder energy future for all?
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