Year: 2026 | Month: April | Volume: 13 | Issue: 4 | Pages: 119-136
DOI: https://doi.org/10.52403/ijrr.20260413
Temporal Evolution of Circular Economy Research in the Indian Automotive Industry: A Bibliometric Review
Roland Frank Doelp
GradXs Researcher for PhD from IIC University of Technology (Enrollment No. FNR250201), Phnom Penh, Kingdom of Cambodia.
Corresponding Author: Roland Frank Doelp
ABSTRACT
The shift of the Indian automotive industry from a linear to a circular economy (CE) model is an important strategy for addressing resource scarcity, environmental damage, and sustainability challenges in a resource-intensive sector. Although research on CE practices is growing, studies remain fragmented regarding their development over time and their alignment with national sustainability initiatives. This study aims to bridge this gap by examining how CE research has evolved and its connection to policy frameworks in India. It does so through a bibliometric review of CE research within the Indian automotive sector, accompanied by a policy-research temporal mapping approach. Data were collected from the Scopus and Web of Science (WoS) Core Collection databases. After a structured screening process, 30 papers were chosen for detailed analysis. The analysis comprises a publication trend analysis, a citation analysis, and a keyword co-occurrence analysis to highlight key contributions. The results show an increase in research output over the past decade, especially since 2021, indicating a transition from an emerging to an expanding field. Three development phases are identified: the foundational phase (2017–2020), the expansion phase (2021–2023), and the acceleration phase (2024–2026). Furthermore, there is a strong temporal correlation between research development and major sustainability milestones, notably the shift from the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) period to the Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) era, with the implementation of the National Vehicle Scrappage Policy and the Business Responsibility and Sustainability Report (BRSR) framework acting as catalysts for increased research activity. Overall, this study enriches the literature by offering a structured timeline of research on the CE in India’s automotive sector.
Keywords: Circular Economy (CE), Indian Automotive Industry, Sustainable Development (SD), Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG), Bibliometric Review, Temporal Mapping
[PDF Full Text]