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Hydrogen energy is one of the promising alternatives for a low-carbon future. However, its widespread adoption is limited because of critical barriers in the technological, infrastructural, economic, and regulatory dimensions. This review discusses the adoption challenges of hydrogen energy, mainly in emerging economies such as India. The main bottlenecks in such countries are the lack of development of infrastructure for hydrogen production, high costs in production, inadequacies in harnessing renewable sources of energy, and complex technologies for storage and transportation. Scaling up hydrogen technology is majorly restricted by public awareness, a skilled workforce shortage, and funding gaps. International cooperation for standardization and facilitation of safe production, distribution, and use of hydrogen technology and regulatory frameworks will be significant. Growth in the hydrogen industry will be supported through policy innovation, public– private partnerships, and funding mechanisms such as green bonds. This integrates hydrogen into the existing energy systems, including industrial applications and grid stabilization; it transitions toward renewable hydrogen; it competes with renewable energy priorities and determines strategies for the optimal allocation of resources to support hydrogen development without undermining other critical applications. This research stimulates an all-round approach that engages the government, the industry, the academia, and the public at large to surpass these hurdles. Hydrogen may now finally step forward as a clean energy carrier given the wise investment in technological innovation coupled with policy alignment to a global low-carbon economy. Conclusions present a solid basis from which policymakers, researchers, and investors guide the hydrogen energy adoption to stand at the epicenter of sustainable futures.