India's carbon market is entering a new phase with compliance trading, Article 6 opportunities, and growing net-zero commitments. Manish Dabkara shares insights on carbon credit integrity, climate finance, MSME participation, and the future of decarbonization. India's carbon market is entering a transformative phase with the rollout of the Carbon Credit Trading Scheme (CCTS) and the expansion of Article 6 mechanisms under the Paris Agreement. Theglobal carbon credit market is projected to grow at a CAGR of over 25% through 2030, while India's carbon market is expected to witness rapid expansion as compliance-driven demand joins voluntary climate action. Growing corporate net-zero commitments, decarbonization regulations, and climate finance initiatives are expected to create significant opportunities across sectors ranging from renewable energy and green hydrogen to sustainable agriculture and industrial efficiency. As carbon markets evolve from voluntary participation to a more structured compliance framework, transparency, integrity, and accessibility will become increasingly important. In this interview,Manish Dabkara, Chairman and Managing Director of EKI Energy Services Ltd., shares his perspectives on India's emerging carbon trading ecosystem, Article 6 opportunities, carbon credit quality, MSME participation, and the future of credible decarbonization. Manish Dabkara:The introduction of the Carbon Credit Trading Scheme marks a significant milestone in India's climate journey. In a voluntary market, organisations typically participate based on theirsustainability ambitions,net-zero commitments, or stakeholder expectations. A compliance market changes that dynamic by embedding carbon management into core business strategy and operational decision-making. What is particularly significant is that carbon credits are no longer viewed solely as an instrument for voluntary climate action; they become part of a broader framework for managing regulatory obligations while driving efficiency and innovation. This creates stronger demand signals, greater market participation, and a more structured ecosystem. For the market itself, integrity and liquidity must develop together. Liquidity grows when more participants actively engage in trading, while integrity depends on robust methodologies, transparent monitoring, and credible verification processes. A well-designed compliance framework has the potential to strengthen both, creating confidence among participants and supporting the long-term development of a credible and effectivecarbon market in India. Manish Dabkara:Energy security challenges can sometimes lead to a short-term increase in fossil fuel consumption as countries prioritise reliability and affordability. However, we do not see this as weakening the long-term case for climate action or carbon markets. If anything, periods of volatility reinforce the importance ofbuilding resilient, low-carbon economies. For businesses, the focus remains on r
