UPSC Prelims Practice Questions — India Records Historic Growth in Wind Energy with 6.1 GW Addition in 2025–26: New & Renewable Energy Minister
Q1. In the context of India's wind energy roadmap reaffirmed in 2025–26, the target of "156 GW by 2036" refers most precisely to which one of the following?
- A. The wind capacity to be added every single year without exception until 2036
- B. The cumulative installed wind power capacity to be reached by 2036
- C. The total non-fossil fuel electricity capacity to be reached by 2036
- D. The offshore wind capacity alone to be commissioned by 2036
Q2. Consider the following statements about India's wind and clean-energy targets:
1. The 100 GW wind capacity target is set for 2030 while the 156 GW wind target is set for 2036.
2. Both the 100 GW and the 156 GW wind targets fall entirely within the goal of 500 GW non-fossil installed capacity by 2030.
3. India's declared net-zero target year is 2070.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
- The 100 GW wind capacity target is set for 2030 while the 156 GW wind target is set for 2036.
- Both the 100 GW and the 156 GW wind targets fall entirely within the goal of 500 GW non-fossil installed capacity by 2030.
- India's declared net-zero target year is 2070.
- A. 1 and 2 only
- B. 1 and 3 only
- C. 2 and 3 only
- D. 1, 2 and 3
Q3. With reference to institutions associated with India's wind energy sector under the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy, consider the following:
1. NIWE is an autonomous research and development institution headquartered at Chennai.
2. SECI is the designated nodal agency for implementing MNRE schemes for inter-state transmission system (ISTS)-connected wind power projects.
3. IREDA is a Navratna non-banking financial institution financing renewable energy projects.
4. NTPC is the agency designated for demarcation of offshore wind blocks.
Which of the above is/are correctly identified?
- NIWE is an autonomous research and development institution headquartered at Chennai.
- SECI is the designated nodal agency for implementing MNRE schemes for inter-state transmission system (ISTS)-connected wind power projects.
- IREDA is a Navratna non-banking financial institution financing renewable energy projects.
- NTPC is the agency designated for demarcation of offshore wind blocks.
- A. 1, 2 and 3
- B. 2, 3 and 4
- C. 1 and 4
- D. 1, 2, 3 and 4
Q4. NIWE has been designated as the nodal agency for offshore wind energy development in India under which one of the following?
- A. National Action Plan on Climate Change, 2008
- B. Electricity Act, 2003
- C. National Offshore Wind Energy Policy, 2015
- D. National Wind-Solar Hybrid Policy, 2018
Q5. India's cumulative installed wind power capacity first crossed the 50 GW milestone in which of the following?
- A. March 2024
- B. March 2025
- C. March 2026
- D. March 2023
Q6. Consider the following statements about India's global standing in wind energy:
1. In cumulative installed wind capacity, India ranks fourth globally, behind China, the USA and Germany.
2. In new wind capacity added during 2025, China alone accounted for over 70% of the global total.
3. India is the only country other than China to have crossed 100 GW of cumulative installed wind capacity.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
- In cumulative installed wind capacity, India ranks fourth globally, behind China, the USA and Germany.
- In new wind capacity added during 2025, China alone accounted for over 70% of the global total.
- India is the only country other than China to have crossed 100 GW of cumulative installed wind capacity.
- A. 1 and 2 only
- B. 2 and 3 only
- C. 1 and 3 only
- D. 1, 2 and 3
Q7. The record 6.1 GW wind capacity addition in 2025–26 was announced by the Union Minister heading which one of the following ministries?
- A. Ministry of Power
- B. Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change
- C. Ministry of New and Renewable Energy
- D. Ministry of Heavy Industries
Q8. Consider the following statements about India's wind capacity addition in 2025–26:
1. The 6.1 GW added represents about a 46% increase over the previous financial year's wind addition.
2. It is the highest-ever single-year wind capacity addition recorded by India.
3. It is the first time in India's history that annual wind additions exceeded annual solar additions.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
- The 6.1 GW added represents about a 46% increase over the previous financial year's wind addition.
- It is the highest-ever single-year wind capacity addition recorded by India.
- It is the first time in India's history that annual wind additions exceeded annual solar additions.
- A. 1 and 2 only
- B. 2 and 3 only
- C. 1 and 3 only
- D. 1, 2 and 3
Q9. India's first wind energy reverse auction, conducted by SECI in February 2017 marking the shift from feed-in tariffs to competitive bidding, was held for how much capacity?
- A. 500 MW
- B. 1,000 MW
- C. 2,000 MW
- D. 250 MW
Q10. Under the Approved List of Models and Manufacturers (Wind Turbine Components), consider the following components:
1. Blade
2. Tower
3. Photovoltaic inverter
4. Generator
Which of the above is/are NOT correctly identified as a major wind turbine component mandated to be sourced from the approved list?
- Blade
- Tower
- Photovoltaic inverter
- Generator
- A. 1 only
- B. 3 only
- C. 2 and 4
- D. 1 and 4
Q11. The scientific wind resource assessment that estimates India's wind potential at nearly 1,164 GW at 150 m hub height is carried out by which one of the following agencies?
- A. India Meteorological Department (IMD)
- B. Central Electricity Authority (CEA)
- C. National Institute of Wind Energy (NIWE)
- D. Solar Energy Corporation of India (SECI)
Q12. With reference to India's "Panchamrit" commitments announced at COP26, consider the following:
1. Achieving 500 GW of non-fossil installed energy capacity by 2030.
2. Meeting 50% of energy requirements from renewable energy by 2030.
3. Reducing the emissions intensity of GDP by 45% by 2030 over 2005 levels.
4. Achieving net-zero emissions by 2050.
Which of the above is/are correctly identified as Panchamrit commitments?
- Achieving 500 GW of non-fossil installed energy capacity by 2030.
- Meeting 50% of energy requirements from renewable energy by 2030.
- Reducing the emissions intensity of GDP by 45% by 2030 over 2005 levels.
- Achieving net-zero emissions by 2050.
- A. 1, 2 and 3
- B. 2, 3 and 4
- C. 1 and 4
- D. 1, 2, 3 and 4