Question 1

Wind energy constitutes the largest share of India's installed renewable energy capacity.

Accepted Answer

Solar energy is by far the largest component, accounting for approximately 55% of India's total renewable energy capacity.

Question 2

The Panchamrit climate target mandates India to achieve 500 GW of strictly solar energy by 2030.

Accepted Answer

The target is 500 GW of 'non-fossil fuel' capacity, which aggregates solar, wind, biomass, large hydro, and nuclear power.

Question 3

Consider the following statements regarding India's solar energy sector and climate targets:
1. Under the Panchamrit goals declared at COP26, India committed to achieving 500 GW of installed solar energy capacity by 2030.
2. Rajasthan currently accounts for the highest installed solar power capacity among all Indian states.
3. The Approved List of Models and Manufacturers (ALMM) mechanism is exclusively designed to regulate the import of wind turbines into India.
How many of the above statements are correct?

Accepted Answer

(a) Only one — Statement 1 is incorrect: The Panchamrit target is 500 GW of 'non-fossil fuel' capacity by 2030, not exclusively solar. Statement 2 is correct: Rajasthan leads the country with nearly 30 GW of installed solar capacity. Statement 3 is incorrect: The ALMM mandate applies to Solar PV Modules, not wind turbines, to ensure domestic manufacturing quality and reduce import dependence.

Question 4

Match the major Solar Parks (List I) with their respective States (List II):
List I (Solar Park)
A. Bhadla Solar Park
B. Pavagada Solar Park
C. Omkareshwar Floating Solar Park
D. Kurnool Ultra Mega Solar Park

List II (State)
1. Andhra Pradesh
2. Karnataka
3. Rajasthan
4. Madhya Pradesh

Select the correct code:

Accepted Answer

(a) A-3, B-2, C-4, D-1 — Bhadla Solar Park (one of the world's largest) is in Rajasthan (A-3). Pavagada Solar Park is in Karnataka (B-2). Omkareshwar is a major floating solar project on the Narmada river in Madhya Pradesh (C-4). Kurnool Ultra Mega Solar Park is located in Andhra Pradesh (D-1).

Question 5

Assertion (A): The Government of India launched the PM Surya Ghar Muft Bijli Yojana to heavily subsidize and promote residential rooftop solar installations.
Reason (R): Ground-mounted utility-scale solar projects frequently encounter severe bottlenecks related to land acquisition and grid connectivity, making decentralized solar crucial for meeting 2030 targets.
Select the correct answer:

Accepted Answer

(a) Both A and R are true and R is the correct explanation of A. — Assertion A is true as the PM Surya Ghar Muft Bijli Yojana aims to boost the lagging rooftop solar sector. Reason R is true and correctly explains A: because large solar parks require 4 to 7 acres of land per MW (leading to acquisition delays and environmental concerns) and face transmission constraints, the government was forced to incentivize decentralized rooftop solar to maintain the pace required for the 500 GW non-fossil target.

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