Shoonya Initiative

Why is in news? NITI Aayog hosts first Shoonya Forum to commemorate first anniversary of India’s zero pollution e-mobility campaign

The Shoonya initiative seeks to eliminate air pollution from commercial transporation in India and build demand for zero-emission vehicles.

This campaign will enable notable reduction in emissions from the transport sector and accelerate country's progress towards it's net zero goal.”

The "Shoonya — Zero-Pollution Mobility" campaign promotes the use of EVs for urban deliveries and ride-hailing. Shoonya, meaning "zero" in Sanskrit language, implies the beginning and origination of possibilities.

Inspired by this connotation, the Shoonya campaign plans to revolutionise the transport sector with a radical and urgent transition to zero-emission vehicles.

It has 3 major components - Corporate Branding Programme, Consumer Awareness Drive, Resource toolkit.

The campaign aims to accelerate adoption of electric vehicles in the urban deliveries segment and create consumer awareness about the benefits of zero-pollution delivery.

Urban freight vehicles account for 10 percent of freight transportation-related carbon dioxide emissions in India, and these emissions are expected to grow by 114 percent by 2030.

EVs emit no tailpipe emissions, which can contribute immensely to improved air quality.

They emit 15 to 40 percent less carbon dioxide compared to their internal combustion engine counterparts and have lower operational cost even during their manufacture.