New Delhi, Nov. 2 -- India is looking to accelerate the production of alternative fuels and reduce dependence on imported fossil fuels as geopolitical developments expose the economy to volatility in global energy prices, road transport and highways minister Nitin Gadkari said on Monday.

India's fossil fuel imports cost about Rs.22 trillion annually, making energy security a major economic and environmental challenge, Gadkari said while speaking at ENRich 2026, a KPMG event.

The government is promoting indigenous, cost-effective and less-polluting energy sources, including ethanol, compressed biogas (CBG), hydrogen and biofuels, to reduce import dependence.

The push comes amid uncertainty in global energy markets, where crude oil price...