CEEW Director Purkayastha Brings India Climate Finance Expertise to IEEFA

Dhruba Purkayastha, Director of Growth and Institutional Advancement at the Council on Energy, Environment and Water in India, has contributed to IEEFA's research network with over 30 years of experience spanning climate finance, energy transition investment, and India's banking and capital markets. He previously served as India Director for the Climate Policy Initiative.

Purkayastha led the US-India Clean Energy Finance Initiative facility, established under a bilateral initiative between the US and Indian governments, and set up the Centre for Sustainable Finance in India at the Climate Policy Initiative. His career spans credit rating, management consulting, investment banking, and international development financing. As a former World Bank Group and IFC staff member, he worked on private and financial sector development, infrastructure and clean energy financing, and public-private partnership frameworks in India.

His deep experience in India's financial sector, including work with ICRA Limited on infrastructure and energy sector advisory, is directly relevant to IEEFA's South Asia research agenda. India represents one of the largest emerging markets for clean energy investment globally and faces significant challenges in mobilising domestic and international capital for its energy transition. Purkayastha's background bridges the gap between India's capital market structures and the financing requirements of the country's renewable energy ambitions.

India's clean energy financing challenge is compounded by the country's continued dependence on coal for power generation and the need to manage the social and economic transition in coal-dependent states. Purkayastha's background in mainstream sustainability and sustainable finance in academic settings, combined with his capital market experience, positions him as a significant resource for IEEFA's work on integrating ESG principles into India's energy investment frameworks.

Key figure — 30+ years — Dhruba Purkayastha's experience in credit rating, management consulting, investment banking, and international development finance