Unlocking Indias Hydrokinetic Potential through Techno-Economic Analysis, Policy Insights and Pilot- Scale Feasibility

India possesses significant untapped hydrokinetic energy potential, with over 145,000 km of canals, major rivers, and hydropower tailraces capable of generating electricity from flowing water without the need for dams or significant head differences. The Central Electricity Authority (CEA) estimates this potential at approximately 92 GW, nearly twice the current large-hydro capacity. While international technologies such as GKinetic have achieved high Technology Readiness Levels, domestic developers like Maclec (Delhi) have implemented only small-scale pilot projects. The formal recognition of Surface Hydrokinetic Turbines (SHKT) under the hydro category by the CEA in November 2024 represents a critical step in clarifying regulatory pathways and enabling policy support. Nevertheless, challenges continue to remain which include seasonal flow variability, high sediment loads, limited national-level resource mapping and low investor confidence. The current study presents the first comprehensive synthesis of hydrokinetic resource potential, technology readiness, economic feasibility, and policy frameworks in India. It provides a structured roadmap for the large-scale deployment and mainstream adoption of SHKT technology.