Biofuels for India: what, when and how

India today, more than ever before, needs to deploy technologies that are able to convert the 'waste' generated in the country to transportation fuels, as also to chemicals and materials. Aimed at reduction of petroleum crude-oil imports and reduction of green house gas emissions, these technologies will need to be highly India specific due to the peculiar nature in which the wastes, e.g. agricultural waste and municipal waste, present themselves across our country. The need therefore transforms to a situation wherein we need the new generation biofuel technologies to be 'made in India' for a 'swachh bharat' and in a way that adds value to the waste and hence becomes a path to generation of new enterprises in line with the 'start-up India' concept. It is however important, that the country is careful in making a judicious choice of technologies that are truly sustainable and products that are truly 'green'.