Neelima Jain

Deputy Director and Senior Fellow, Chair in U.S.-India Policy Studies
Neelima Jain

Neelima is deputy director and senior fellow with the Chair in U.S.-India Policy Studies at the Center for Strategic and International Studies. In her role, she works closely with the Indian states to bolster U.S.-India relations on energy reforms. Formerly, she was CEO of EPAL, Energy Efficiency Service Ltd’s (EESL) UK-based subsidiary. EESL is a government of India entity and a leading player in clean energy solutions. Neelima was responsible for the overall strategic direction, business development, and operational management of EESL’s operations in the United Kingdom. She established EPAL's operations from the ground up and led the first-ever acquisition of an overseas company by India’s Ministry of Power. In 2019, India Inc. included Neelima in its list of the 100 most influential people in UK-India relations. In 2020, EPAL was ranked as the fastest-growing Indian-owned company in the United Kingdom by Grant Thornton. Neelima also led UJALA, one of the largest zero-subsidy energy efficiency programs for domestic consumers. She managed the rollout of the program in 60 million households across India.

Neelima brings 17 years of experience working across India and internationally on energy efficiency, sustainable development, energy, and environment. She has served on the International Energy Agency’s EE Industry Advisory Board. In previous roles, Neelima has developed demand-side management programs for state utilities, led operational planning and strategy for one of the largest clean development management programs, and implemented smart grid initiatives at the likes of National Grid, Scottish and Southern Energy, Tata Power, Gujarat State Petroleum Corporation, and Torrent Power. Neelima holds a M.Sc. in software engineering from Birla Institute of Technology and Science, Pilani.

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Accelerate 175: Report Launch

Join the CSIS India Chair as we discuss Indian states’ renewable energy goals, and the pathway to adopt 500 GW by 2030.

Event by Richard M. Rossow , Neelima Jain , Mahesh Patankar , Abhishek Ranjan , and Nikit Abhyankar — April 19, 2023

Climate Summits Should Accelerate Subnational Action

Subnational climate action can be a driving force for reducing emissions. Here’s how climate summits can empower subnational entities, promote multilateral cooperation, and accelerate emissions reduction.

Commentary by Neelima Jain — November 30, 2022

Role of States in Accelerating India's Net Zero Transition

Please join the CSIS Wadhwani Chair and the Network for Global Innovation for a joint U.S-India round table discussion about how best the subnational entities can support each other in navigating the challenges of a fast-evolving energy transition.

Event by Neelima Jain , Richard M. Rossow , Dr. Praveer Sinha , Martin Adams , and Fred Walti — April 29, 2022

MoU signing between NASEO-AREAS

The CSIS, supported by the SED Fund, was pleased to facilitate a singing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between the National Association of State Energy Officials (NASEO) and India’s Association of Renewable Energy Agencies of States (AREAS).

Event by Neelima Jain , Afeena Ashfaque , Secretary Jennifer M. Granholm , Shri Bhagwanth Khuba , Sh. Indu Shekhar Chaturvedi , Andrew Light , David Terry , Jeevan Kumar Jethani , and Sandy Fazeli — July 15, 2021

Energy 360°

India’s Progress on Energy Storage

Neelima Jain (CSIS Wadhwani Chair in U.S.-India Policy Studies) is joined by Saurabh Kumar (Energy Efficiency Services Limited or EESL) and Rahul Walawalkar (India Energy Storage Alliance) to discuss the role that energy storage can play in helping India meet its clean energy goals. 

Podcast Episode by Neelima Jain — May 24, 2021

CSIS Energy 360

IEA’s India Energy Outlook 2021

The CSIS Energy Security & Climate Change Program is pleased to invite you to a discussion of the IEA’s India Energy Outlook 2021.

Event by Sarah Ladislaw , Neelima Jain , Tim Gould , Peter Zeniewski , and Siddarth Singh — March 4, 2021