UPSC Mains 2020 GS1 Q16 — Renewable Energy Resources
India has immense potential of solar energy though there are regional variations in its development. Elaborate. (Answer in 250 words)
Question Decoded — examiner's intent
- Directive verbs
- Elaborate
- Scope keywords
- immense potentialsolar energyregional variationsdevelopment
- Implicit sub-parts
- What are the geographical, climatic, and structural reasons behind India's high solar potential?
- Mapping the 'regional variations': Which states/regions are leaders versus laggards and why?
- What are the socio-economic and logistical barriers causing this uneven development (e.g., land availability, grid connectivity, policy differences)?
- How can policy interventions (ISA, PM-KUSUM, Green Energy Corridors) bridge these regional gaps?
- Common pitfalls
- Spending too much time on general solar benefits (pollution reduction) instead of focusing on 'regional' disparities.
- Failing to mention specific states like Rajasthan/Gujarat as leaders or the Northeast/Hilly regions as laggards.
- Ignoring the 'insolation' factor (geography) as the primary cause of variation versus 'infrastructure' (governance).
- Omission of the distinction between utility-scale solar parks and rooftop solar adoption.
- Dimensions required
- Geographical (latitudinal position, cloud cover)Economic (Investment patterns, DISCOM health)Political/Federal (State-level solar policies and land acquisition laws)Technical (Grid stability and transmission losses in remote areas)
- Marks allocation hint
Allocate 50 words to justify India's potential using geography. Devote 150 words to a detailed analysis of regional variations, contrasting the resource-rich West/South with the logistical challenges of the East/North. Reserve the final 50 words for policy solutions and a forward-looking conclusion on grid integration.
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