- India's massive cement industry footprint presents a significant challenge to achieving its 2070 net-zero emissions target. - Cement production is inherently carbon-intensive due to the calcination process and fossil fuel reliance for heat. - Decarbonizing the cement sector requires shifting to alternative fuels, improving energy efficiency, exploring carbon capture and storage (CCS), and promoting blended cements. - Balancing rapid infrastructure growth and urbanization with stringent climate commitments remains a core policy challenge for India. - **Long-Term Low Emission Development Strategy (LT-LEDS):** India's official roadmap submitted under the Paris Agreement detailing low-carbon transitions across key economic sectors like energy, transport, and industry to achieve net-zero emissions by 2070. - **UNFCCC:** An international environmental treaty established to coordinate global action on climate change, stabilizing greenhouse gas concentrations and governing mechanisms like Conference of the Parties (COP). **Introduction** The article explores how India's large and expanding cement footprint poses a critical hurdle to achieving its net-zero emissions target by 2070. It highlights the technological, energy, and structural challenges involved in decarbonizing hard-to-abate sectors like cement amidst rising infrastructure demand. **Core Issue and Detailed Points** - India's massive cement industry footprint presents a significant challenge to achieving its 2070 net-zero emissions target. - Cement production is inherently carbon-intensive due to the calcination process and fossil fuel reliance for heat. - Decarbonizing the cement sector requires shifting to alternative fuels, improving energy efficiency, exploring carbon capture and storage (CCS), and promoting blended cements. - Balancing rapid infrastructure growth and urbanization with stringent climate commitments remains a core policy challenge for India. **Key Statutory Bodies, Acts & Concepts** - **Long-Term Low Emission Development Strategy (LT-LEDS):** India's official roadmap submitted under the Paris Agreement detailing low-carbon transitions across key economic sectors like energy, transport, and industry to achieve net-zero emissions by 2070. - **UNFCCC:** An international environmental treaty established to coordinate global action on climate change, stabilizing greenhouse gas concentrations and governing mechanisms like Conference of the Parties (COP).