Background
An economist’s lens on India’s energy future
Agastya Khanna is a high-school student whose academic interests sit at the intersection of economics and environmental policy. Growing up in India, he became increasingly curious about why clean energy adoption — despite its obvious benefits — remains slow and uneven across households and regions.
His research takes an economics-first approach: rather than treating energy transition as a purely technical problem, he examines the price signals, subsidy structures, and behavioural incentives that shape real household decisions.
This website documents that ongoing research journey — from early essays to field data to conversations with people working on these problems every day.
Discipline
Economics
Focus
Energy Policy
Focus region
India
Journey
Research milestones
Carbon offset markets
Wrote “False Promises”, an essay for the HUEA Essay Contest 2025 (Environment) arguing that direct emission cuts beat carbon offset schemes.
Carbon borders and global pricing
Used a game-theory model to ask whether the EU’s Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism can spread carbon pricing without deepening global inequality.
Decentralised renewable energy
Examined how off-grid and rooftop solar can deliver reliable, productive power to rural communities across the Global South.
Conversations series
Interviewed Mr. Sudhir Vasudeva, former Chairman & MD of ONGC, and Gautam Handa, Founder of VGS, on India’s energy transition.
Household energy survey launched
Launched a primary survey of household electricity use and solar adoption across India.
Interested in the research?
Explore the essays, conversations, and household energy survey — or reach out directly.