The Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) plays a pivotal role in India's energy sector, especially in the context of diversifying energy sources, enhancing energy security, and mitigating the environmental impact of energy use. The transition from conventional sources of energy to renewable and new energy forms is critical for addressing challenges like climate change, energy scarcity, and reducing dependency on imported fossil fuels. Here's an overview of MNRE's evolution and its significance:

1. Evolution of MNRE
2. 1981: The establishment of the Commission for Additional Sources of Energy (CASE) within the Department of Science & Technology marked the formal beginning of India's focused efforts on alternative energy sources. This move was primarily in response to the global oil crises of the 1970s, which highlighted the vulnerabilities associated with heavy reliance on fossil fuels.
3. 1982: The creation of the Department of Non-conventional Energy Sources (DNES) represented a step-up in the institutional framework, integrating CASE and expanding the mandate to include policy formulation, implementation of renewable energy programs, and enhancing R&D in the sector.
4. 1992: The transition of DNES to the Ministry of Non-conventional Energy Sources signified the growing importance and institutional recognition of renewable energy in India's energy and environmental policy landscape.
5. 2006: The renaming of the Ministry to the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) reflected an expanded focus, encompassing a broader spectrum of renewable energy sources and technologies, and a commitment to fostering innovation in the sector.
6. VISION
7. To develop new and renewable energy technologies, processes, materials, components, sub-systems, products & services at par with international specifications, standards and performance parameters in order to make the country a net foreign exchange earner in the sector and deploy such indigenously developed and/or manufactured products and services in furtherance of the national goal of energy security.
8. MISSION
9. Energy Security: Development and deployment of alternate fuels like hydrogen, bio-fuels and synthetic fuels and their applications to contribute towards bridging the gap between domestic oil supply and demand; lesser dependency on oil imports
10. Increase in the share of clean power: Renewables like wind, hydro, solar, geothermal, bio & tidal power to supplement fossil fuel based electricity generation.
11. Energy Availability and Access: Supplement energy needs of cooking, heating, motive power and captive generation in rural, urban, industrial and commercial sectors
12. Energy Affordability: Cost-competitive, convenient, safe, affordable and reliable energy supply options
13. Energy Equity: Per-capita energy consumption at par with the global average level by 2050, through a sustainable and diverse fuel- mix