Assessment of the geothermal potential zone of India utilizing GIS-based multi-criteria decision analysis technique

India, with 80 % energy demand reliant on fossil fuels, is the world's third-largest greenhouse gas emitter, necessitating a shift from fossil fuels to renewable energy. While solar and wind production has grown, geothermal energy remains untapped despite enormous prospects in the country. In this regard, India's first regional-scale geothermal potential (GP) map has been prepared using a GIS based on a multi-criteria decision analysis technique. Five thematic layers (geology, fault, heat flow, thermal spring, and earthquake epicenter) have been used to calculate GP index, which is divided into high, moderate, and low categories. The result shows that most geothermal drilling sites are distributed in the high GP category zone, showing high efficacy. Further, a joint study of the geothermal surface and reservoir temperature with the present study shows that the northern and western parts of India have significant potential for geothermal exploration. Our result also reveals that the projected CO2 emissions are approximately 2.6 gigatons (which is lower than other energy sources) for an output of 10 GW using geothermal energy in the next 75 years. This study can enhance geothermal prospect identification, cutting exploration costs, and site selection, and contributing to multiple UN Sustainable Development Goals.