Question map
Consider the following statements about 'PM Surya Ghar Muft Bijli Yojana' : I. It targets installation of one crore solar rooftop panels in the residential sector. II. The Ministry of New and Renewable Energy aims to impart training on installation, operation, maintenance and repairs of solar rooftop systems at grassroot levels. III. It aims to create more than three lakhs skilled manpower through fresh skilling, and up-skilling, under scheme component of capacity building. Which of the statements given above are correct?
Explanation
The PM Surya Ghar: Muft Bijli Yojana aims to supply solar power to one crore households by March 2027, with installations[1] projected to exceed 10 lakh by March 2025[2], confirming Statement I is correct. The scheme strives towards the installation of 1 crore rooftops across residential sectors, recognizing the role of trained solar technicians as indispensable[3].
Statement II is also correct as solar technical training for installation, operation, maintenance and repairs has been imparted under the Suryamitra and various other skill development programs[4], indicating the Ministry's commitment to grassroots-level training for solar rooftop systems.
However, Statement III cannot be verified from the provided documents as there is no specific mention of the target figure of "more than three lakhs skilled manpower" under the capacity building component. The documents mention the need for trained technicians but do not cite this specific numerical target.
Therefore, only Statements I and II are correct, making option A the right answer.
Sources- [1] https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleaseIframePage.aspx?PRID=2081250
- [2] https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleaseIframePage.aspx?PRID=2081250
- [3] https://dgt.gov.in/sites/default/files/2024-08/Rooftops_books.pdf
- [4] https://energy.economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/renewable/bridging-the-gender-gap-in-indias-solar-energy-sector/123164735
PROVENANCE & STUDY PATTERN
Full viewThis is a 'Flagship Scheme' deep-dive. While standard books cover the National Solar Mission, the specific targets (1 crore households, 3 lakh skilled workers) are lifted directly from the scheme's launch PIB release. You cannot answer this with static knowledge alone; you must read the 'Key Highlights' of major PM-schemes.
This question can be broken into the following sub-statements. Tap a statement sentence to jump into its detailed analysis.
- Statement 1: Does PM Surya Ghar Muft Bijli Yojana target installation of one crore solar rooftop panels/systems in the residential sector?
- Statement 2: Under PM Surya Ghar Muft Bijli Yojana, does the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy plan to impart training on installation, operation, maintenance and repair of solar rooftop systems at grassroots levels?
- Statement 3: Does PM Surya Ghar Muft Bijli Yojana aim to create more than 3 lakh skilled manpower through fresh skilling and up-skilling under its capacity-building component?
- Official PIB press release states the scheme's vision is to supply solar power to one crore households by March 2027.
- The passage explicitly links the initiative to rooftop installations for households, indicating residential targeting.
- A government training document refers to 'installation of 1 crore rooftops across residential sectors', directly matching the one crore rooftops target.
- This passage explicitly frames the target in the residential sector and discusses related implementation needs (technicians).
- The conclusion of the PIB material reiterates that installations are projected to reach the target of one crore by March 2027.
- This reinforces the stated timeline and target number for household rooftop installations under the scheme.
Gives an explicit national target breakdown under the National Solar Mission — 40 GW of the revised 100 GW target is expected from rooftop installations.
A student could combine the 40 GW rooftop target with a typical residential system size (e.g., kW per household) to estimate how many rooftop systems would be needed and see if that aligns with 'one crore' units.
States the overall revised solar generation capacity target (100 GW), providing context for scale of rooftop deployment within broader national goals.
Use the 100 GW national target as an upper bound to judge whether a claim of one crore residential panels is consistent with national ambitions and capacity.
Reports that over 650,000 solar PV systems have been installed in the country, giving a historical baseline for number of systems already deployed.
Compare the existing ~650k installations to the claimed one crore (10 million) to assess the plausibility and required rate of scale-up from current levels.
Notes India’s annual solar cell manufacturing capacity (~3 GW) versus demand (~20 GW), indicating supply constraints and reliance on imports.
A student could translate GW manufacturing capacity into approximate numbers of panels/systems per year to see if domestic manufacturing could support installation of one crore systems without large imports.
Mentions that subsidies and mandatory measures have been used previously to promote residential solar (e.g., solar water heaters), showing that residential-targeted incentives are a recognized policy approach.
Use this pattern to infer that a scheme claiming mass residential rooftop deployment would likely include subsidy/mandate mechanisms — a student could check whether PM Surya Ghar Muft Bijli Yojana includes such measures.
- Official training manual titled for rooftop solar under PM Surya Ghar indicates a planned/structured training program.
- Document explicitly links PM Surya Ghar with 'Rooftop Solar PV (Installation & Maintenance) - Trainer' material, showing intent to train technicians.
- States MNRE has been imparting solar technical training for installation, operation, maintenance and repairs.
- Mentions partnerships and accredited training centres to carry out skilling programs for rooftop solar installations across India.
- Emphasises the need for trained solar technicians as indispensable for the PM Surya Ghar rollout.
- Links the large-scale rooftop target with the requirement to train technicians, implying grassroots training plans.
This snippet shows the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) issues sectoral policy (National Wind-Solar Hybrid Policy), indicating MNRE designs programmatic frameworks for solar/wind deployment.
A student could infer that since MNRE issues implementation frameworks for solar programmes, it plausibly could include capacity-building/training components for rooftop systems and then check MNRE scheme documents for explicit training clauses.
Mentions MNRE’s involvement in large solar PPP programmes (Solar PPP Program for development of solar parks), showing MNRE runs or supports solar implementation projects.
From MNRE’s role in implementation, a student might reasonably expect MNRE to include operational/training measures in deployment projects and look for training budget lines or training partners in official releases.
Cites an MNRE report on solar manufacturing capacity and demand, demonstrating MNRE produces technical reports and collects sectoral data.
Given MNRE prepares technical assessments, a student could look for similar MNRE technical guidance or training modules aimed at grassroots stakeholders for rooftop systems.
Describes the National Solar Mission’s objectives to promote solar diffusion and off-grid systems, implying policy emphasis on expanding solar access which often requires local capacity building.
One could extend this by reasoning that diffusion policies commonly include training to ensure proper installation/maintenance and then search mission documents or scheme guidelines for explicit training provisions.
Notes MNRE implements other grassroots-level renewable programmes (e.g., National Biogas and Manure Management Programme with 50 lakh plants), evidencing MNRE’s history of implementing large-scale field programmes.
A student may infer MNRE has operational experience at grassroots scale and therefore could incorporate training in new schemes; they should verify by checking scheme implementation manuals or MNRE press releases for training components.
Mentions a new PMKVY 4.0 will be launched to 'skill lakhs of youth within the next three years', showing central schemes set targets in 'lakhs' for skilling.
A student could compare the 'lakhs' scale of PMKVY targets with the 3-lakh figure to judge plausibility and then seek the specific target in the PM Surya Ghar scheme documents.
Describes PMKVY's Short-Term Training (STT) as a mechanism for fresh skilling and RPL for up‑skilling — examples of capacity‑building components used by national schemes.
Use this as a model to infer that a 'capacity-building component' in another scheme could plausibly include STT/RPL-style interventions and thus set numeric targets for skilled persons.
Lists multiple large national skilling schemes (DDU-GKY, PMKVY, NAPS, SHREYAS) and notes the National Skills Qualifications Framework — indicating institutional capacity exists to train large numbers.
A student can reason that because the government runs several large programs with nationwide reach, a new scheme might likewise aim for targets in the hundreds of thousands; they should check the scheme's capacity allocations or implementing agency announcements.
Provides data on low existing coverage (only ~13.5% have any skill training) and highlights need for 'a lot more emphasis' — implying many schemes aim to scale-up skilling substantially.
One could use the documented gap and national priority to infer why policymakers might set multi‑lakh targets (such as >3 lakh) in new initiatives; verify by checking the scheme's published target numbers.
Enumerates the government's standard skilling initiatives (PMKVY, NAPS, STRIVE, etc.), showing a pattern where capacity-building is a common component across programmes.
Treat PM Surya Ghar's 'capacity-building component' as likely following existing patterns (formal short‑term training, apprenticeships) and then look for its declared numerical target to confirm the >3 lakh claim.
- [THE VERDICT]: Current Affairs Heavy / Trap. Statement I is a headline fact, but Statement III (3 lakh manpower) is a 'fine print' detail found in the official press release.
- [THE CONCEPTUAL TRIGGER]: Renewable Energy Policy & Skill Development. The intersection of infrastructure targets (Solar) and human resource requirements (Skilling).
- [THE HORIZONTAL EXPANSION]: Memorize these Solar/Scheme siblings: 1) PM-KUSUM (Components A, B, C targets). 2) PLI for Solar PV Modules (Outlay & Efficiency targets). 3) India's Updated NDC (50% non-fossil capacity by 2030, 500 GW target). 4) Net Metering vs Gross Metering policies. 5) The 'Model Solar Village' component (one per district).
- [THE STRATEGIC METACOGNITION]: When a scheme has 'PM' in the title, do not stop at the objective. Create a 'Scheme Card' listing: Nodal Ministry, Hard Targets (Numbers), Financial Outlay, and Secondary Benefits (Employment/Skilling). UPSC loves asking about the 'secondary' outcomes of primary infrastructure schemes.
The Mission separates rooftop solar capacity (40 GW) from large/medium grid projects within the overall solar target, which is essential to judge rooftop-focused scheme claims.
High-yield for UPSC because it clarifies how national targets are disaggregated between rooftop and utility-scale solar, enabling evaluation of scheme-specific ambitions and policy priorities; connects to questions on renewable energy targets, implementation strategy, and sectoral allocation.
- Environment, Shankar IAS Acedemy .(ed 10th) > Chapter 23: India and Climate Change > Mission targets > p. 302
- Environment, Shankar IAS Acedemy .(ed 10th) > Chapter 22: Renewable Energy > z?..t.4lnstalled capacrty - India > p. 288
Installed capacity figures do not directly convert into number of household rooftop systems; existing data (about 650,000 PV systems) illustrates this distinction.
Important for aspirants to estimate and critique claims that state targets in terms of system counts (e.g., one crore systems) are consistent with capacity targets—useful in numerical estimation, scheme evaluation, and policy critique questions.
- Geography of India ,Majid Husain, (McGrawHill 9th ed.) > Chapter 8: Energy Resources > Solar Energy > p. 28
- Environment, Shankar IAS Acedemy .(ed 10th) > Chapter 23: India and Climate Change > Mission targets > p. 302
Domestic manufacturing capacity (~3 GW) versus annual demand (~20 GW) affects the feasibility and pace of large-scale rooftop deployment.
Vital for answering questions about implementation bottlenecks and supply-side constraints of solar programmes; links energy policy to industrial policy, imports, and programme deliverability.
- Indian Economy, Nitin Singhania .(ed 2nd 2021-22) > Chapter 15: Infrastructure > Solar Photovoltaics Manufacturing in India > p. 451
The Ministry of New and Renewable Energy is the implementing authority for major solar policies and programmes.
High-yield: UPSC questions often ask which ministry or agency implements key energy schemes and policies. Understanding MNRE's central role connects to governance, policy implementation and scheme evaluation questions. This enables candidates to correctly attribute responsibilities and assess implementation challenges.
- Indian Economy, Nitin Singhania .(ed 2nd 2021-22) > Chapter 15: Infrastructure > National Wind-Solar Hybrid Policy Ø. > p. 452
- Indian Economy, Nitin Singhania .(ed 2nd 2021-22) > Chapter 15: Infrastructure > GLOBAL INFRASTRUCTURE FACILITY > p. 442
- Indian Economy, Nitin Singhania .(ed 2nd 2021-22) > Chapter 15: Infrastructure > Solar Photovoltaics Manufacturing in India > p. 451
There are separate national initiatives like household electrification drives (e.g., SAUBHAGYA) and targeted solar missions focused on capacity expansion.
High-yield: Differentiating programme objectives (universal electrification vs expanding solar capacity) is frequently tested in polity and economy sections. It helps answer questions on scheme design, target groups, funding modalities and expected outcomes, and prevents conflation of similarly named programmes.
- Indian Economy, Nitin Singhania .(ed 2nd 2021-22) > Chapter 15: Infrastructure > Power or Electricity Sector > p. 449
- Environment, Shankar IAS Acedemy .(ed 10th) > Chapter 22: Renewable Energy > z?..t.4lnstalled capacrty - India > p. 288
India has ambitious solar capacity targets while domestic solar cell manufacturing capacity lags behind demand, affecting deployment strategies.
High-yield: Knowledge of targets and manufacturing limits is vital for questions on energy security, import dependence, and policy responses (incentives, Make in India). It links to economics (trade, industry), environment (renewable targets), and technology & infrastructure topics.
- Indian Economy, Nitin Singhania .(ed 2nd 2021-22) > Chapter 15: Infrastructure > Solar Photovoltaics Manufacturing in India > p. 451
- Environment, Shankar IAS Acedemy .(ed 10th) > Chapter 22: Renewable Energy > z?..t.4lnstalled capacrty - India > p. 288
PMKVY is a principal national scheme for short-term fresh skilling and recognition of prior learning used to build employable skills.
High-yield for UPSC because questions probe central skilling programmes, their objectives and implementation mechanisms; links to ministries (MSDE), employment policy, and schemes like NAPS and SANKALP. Understanding PMKVY helps answer questions on skill development targets, schemes' differences, and governance of training.
- Indian Economy, Vivek Singh (7th ed. 2023-24) > Chapter 15: Budget and Economic Survey > 6. Youth power > p. 447
- Indian Economy, Nitin Singhania .(ed 2nd 2021-22) > Chapter 19: Population and Demographic Dividend > TACKLING SKILL DEFICIT THROUGH HUMAN CAPITAL > p. 574
- Indian Economy, Vivek Singh (7th ed. 2023-24) > Chapter 7: Indian Economy after 2014 > Some initiatives of Govt. of India for Skilling: > p. 240
The Subsidy Structure: The scheme provides Rs 30,000 subsidy for 1 kW systems, Rs 60,000 for 2 kW systems, and is capped at Rs 78,000 for systems of 3 kW or higher. This tiered subsidy is the next logical question.
The 'Coherent Policy' Heuristic. If Statement I is true (installing 1 crore panels—a massive hardware push), the government *must* logically have a supporting software/human resource component (training/skilling) to prevent implementation failure. Therefore, if the hardware target (I) is correct, the supporting mechanisms (II and III) are almost certainly correct to ensure the scheme is holistic.
Mains GS-3 (Energy) + GS-2 (Governance): Link this to 'Decentralized Distributed Generation (DDG)'. Unlike utility-scale solar (land-intensive), rooftop solar democratizes energy production, reduces AT&C losses for DISCOMs, and promotes 'Energy Swaraj' (self-reliance).