GD Topic - Electric Vehicles (EVs) in India: Dream or Reality?

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Senior Executive - Editorial

Updated on Sep 25, 2025 16:31 IST

Candidates looking for admission in MBA course must prepare well for the Group Discussion Round along with the entrance exam. Check out the below article for a Discussion on Electric Vehicles (EVs) in India.

Group Discussion is part of the Management of Business Administration (MBA) admission process. During GD, universities assess candidates on many parameters. These include communication skills, time management, listening skills, English proficiency, confidence level, subject knowledge, leadership skills, etc. Universities conduct a group discussion round after the MBA entrance exams are over.

Some of the top entrance exams taken by students for admission in MBA are CAT, XAT, SNAP, NMAT, and MAH MBA CET. Students with the required score in any of these exams are shortlisted for the Group Discussion Round. In this round, a group of selected candidates is given a topic for discussion. They generally get 5 minutes to collect their thoughts and are then asked to discuss the topic for about 20-25 minutes. After the discussion is over, the judges score them based on their performance. Candidates with higher scores have higher chances of securing admission to top-tier B-schools like IIM, XLRI Jamshedpur, SBIM Pune, etc.

Check Out: Top MBA Colleges in India

Table of content

What are Electric Vehicles (EVs)?
Key Features of Electric Vehicles (EVs)
History of Electric Vehicles (EVs)
Future of Electric Vehicles in India
Government Initiatives to Promote EVs
Advantages of Electric Vehicles (EVs)
Disadvantages of Electric Vehicles (EVs)
Top Group Discussion (GD) Topics for MBA GD/PI

What are Electric Vehicles (EVs)?

Electric vehicles (EVs) are automobiles that use one or more electric motors for propulsion. These motors are powered by energy stored in onboard batteries or fuel cells. The conventional vehicles rely on ICEs (internal combustion engines) and burn fossil fuels (like petrol or diesel). However, electric vehicles operate on electricity. This is the reason EVs are a more sustainable and cleaner alternative for transportation.

There are four types of Electric Vehicles:

Battery Electric Vehicles are fully electric vehicles powered by rechargeable batteries; for example, Tesla Model 3 and Tata Nexon EV.
Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicles include a combination of an electric motor and an internal combustion engine. These vehicles can run on electricity for short distances and fuel for longer trips; for example, the Toyota Prius Plug-in.
Hybrid Electric Vehicles use an electric motor and fuel-based engine simultaneously. The vehicle batteries are charged through regenerative braking, for example, the Honda Accord Hybrid. Lastly,
Fuel Cell Electric Vehicles are EVs that use hydrogen fuel cells to generate electricity for propulsion; for example, the Toyota Mirai.

Key Features of Electric Vehicles (EVs)

Refer to the key features of Electric Vehicles (EVs) here:

Electric Vehicles are energy efficient as they convert over 77% of electrical energy into motion as compared to 20-30% for traditional vehicles.
Electric Vehicles do not produce any tailpipe emissions. These vehicles contribute to reduced air pollution and greenhouse gas levels.
The operating costs of fuel and maintenance of electric vehicles are low. It is because there are fewer moving parts in EVs.
The electric vehicles are built with advanced features such as smart dashboards, regenerative braking, and connectivity options.
EVs contribute to lower noise pollution because they produce significantly less noise compared to ICE vehicles (Internal Combustion Engine Vehicles).

History of Electric Vehicles (EVs)

As most people think, EVs were not invented in the 21^st century. The technology used for EVs is almost as old as the technology used in ICEs. Inventors started performing experiments in electric propulsion during the 1820s. However, in the 18^th century, EVs didn’t get much attention compared to ICE vehicles because EVs had immature battery technology, high costs, a lack of infrastructure, faced competition from steam and horse-drawn vehicles, industrial priorities, a lack of awareness among people, and a lack of demand. After many experiments and failures, EVs finally started getting the required recognition in the late 19^th and early 20^th centuries. This period is referred to as the Golden Era of Electric Vehicles. Some reasons behind the recognition include advancements in battery technology, innovative designs, ease of use, technological improvements, celebrity and industrial endorsement, and increasing urban user popularity.

Future of Electric Vehicles in India

Electric Vehicles in India are heavily promoted as a sustainable and eco-friendly mode of transportation. The country is constantly trying to position itself as a key player in the global EV ecosystem to reduce carbon emissions, improve security, and address urban pollution. According to the 2023 statistics, EVs make up about 2% of the total car sales in India. To achieve the dream of making India a key player, the government of India wants to increase this percentage to 30% by 2030. India has also decided to cut import taxes on electric vehicles. This exemption will apply to the electric vehicles produced by those car-makers who commit to invest at least 500 million dollars and start domestic manufacturing within 3 years. These changes will lead to increased competition for the domestic auto-makers. However, it seems like the Indian auto-makers have plans to compete in the EV market.

Examples of Electric Vehicles

Tata Motors commands more than 80% of India’s electric car market. The company is currently selling four EV models and plans to expand its EV lineup to at least ten models over the next 3-4 years. Besides, the company is targeting to increase its EV sales to 25% of its total car sales by 2025.
Mahindra offers an electric version of its XUV 400 SUV and is planning to introduce new electric SUVs from 2025. The company expects its EV sales to account for 20-30% of the SUV sales by March 2027.
Hyundai Motors currently sells two EV models in India; the Kona Electric and the Ioniq 5. The company plans to introduce five EV cars by 2032 and increase the number of its charging stations to 439 by 2027.
Maruti Suzuki, India’s top automaker by sales plans to introduce six EV models by 2030. The company is also scheduled to roll out its first EV from its Gujrat plant by the end of 2024.
Lastly, Indian steel-to-power conglomerate JSW Group has announced its plan to enter the EV market with its own brand. The company has stated in its business roadmap to increase the current production capacity of one lakh plus vehicles to three lakh vehicles annually.

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Government Initiatives to Promote EVs

The government of India has also started many initiatives to promote electric vehicles. Some of these are as follows:

FAME Scheme: The FAME India (Faster Adoption and Manufacturing of (Hybrid &) Electric Vehicles in India) policy aims to encourage people to use electric vehicles in the country. This scheme started in 2015 in two phases:
- Phase I focused on four areas, i.e., generating EV demand, advancing technology, piloting projects, and developing charging infrastructure.
- However, the second phase, which started in April 2019, focused on making public and shared modes of transportation electric.
PLI Scheme for ACC Batteries: The PLI scheme was launched in September 2021. It aims to improve domestic manufacturing of advanced batteries.
Electric Mobility Promotion Scheme: This scheme started in April 2024 and aimed to enhance green mobility and encourage the manufacturing of electric vehicles in India.
State Policies: Many states, like Delhi, Tamil Nadu, and Maharashtra, offer road tax exemptions, registration fee waivers, and purchase subsidies to encourage the manufacturing of EVs.

Advantages of Electric Vehicles (EVs)

To understand the need for Electric Vehicles in this era, let’s know how EVs are advantageous to all:

Reduced Air Pollution: Electric Vehicles do not produce tailpipe emissions, significantly improving the air quality of populated cities like Mumbai, Delhi, etc. Switching to EVs will also help India meet its National Clean Air Programme goals.
Lower Running Cost: Electricity is cheaper than diesel or petrol. It reduces the operating/running cost of the electric vehicle owner.
Improved Driving Experience: Electric Vehicles gives a smoother and less noisy driving experience. This can help reduce noise pollution in crowded urban areas. EVs are especially beneficial for residential areas.
Potential for Renewable Energy Integration: Electric Vehicles can be charged using wind energy or solar energy, promoting a cleaner energy ecosystem. Besides, many rural areas are getting solar-powered charging stations to make it easy for EV owners to charge their vehicles when they are not in urban cities.
Improved Performance: Electric Vehicles provide better acceleration, giving the driver a smooth driving experience.

Disadvantages of Electric Vehicles (EVs)

Refer to the space below to know about the drawbacks of electric vehicles:

High Initial Cost: Electric Vehicles are more expensive than conventional vehicles because of the high battery costs.
Charging Station Limitations: As of February 2024 India has around 12,000 public charging stations. People who want to travel for long distances will not find EVs a better option. Although the number of charging stations is increasing, it is still far from matching the convenience and widespread availability.
Long Charging Time: Charging an electric vehicle can take several hours, which will demotivate users to purchase them, as they can quickly refuel petrol or diesel cars.
Battery Life: EV batteries can experience capacity degradation, reducing vehicle performance. Besides, replacing batteries can be very expensive.. Additionally, India lacks a proper recycling system for EV batteries
Limited Model Availability: There are fewer EV options in India as compared to petrol and diesel vehicles. So, options for EVs in the luxury or low-cost segment may be limited.

Top Group Discussion (GD) Topics for MBA GD/PI

Below listed are some of the important GD Topics for reference. Candidates can refer to these GD Topics to gather information and present their thoughts accordingly during the GD round.

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About the Author

Nupur Jain