UPSC Prelims Practice Questions — India's Solar Growth Enters a New Era
Q1. With reference to the Pradhan Mantri Surya Sarovar Yojana (PM-SSY) approved by the Union Cabinet in 2026, consider the following:
1. It supports floating solar photovoltaic projects that are paired with energy storage systems.
2. It has been approved with a total outlay of ₹5,070 crore.
3. Its approved implementation period runs from FY 2024-25 to FY 2028-29.
4. It is administered by the Ministry of Jal Shakti, since the projects are sited on water bodies.
Which of the above is/are correctly identified?
- It supports floating solar photovoltaic projects that are paired with energy storage systems.
- It has been approved with a total outlay of ₹5,070 crore.
- Its approved implementation period runs from FY 2024-25 to FY 2028-29.
- It is administered by the Ministry of Jal Shakti, since the projects are sited on water bodies.
- A. 1 and 2 only
- B. 2 and 3 only
- C. 1, 3 and 4
- D. 2, 3 and 4
Q2. Under the Pradhan Mantri Surya Sarovar Yojana, projects must carry energy storage of at least how many hours, aggregating to what quantum of storage?
- A. At least 1 hour, aggregating to 5,000 MWh of storage
- B. At least 2 hours, aggregating to 10,000 MWh of storage
- C. At least 3 hours, aggregating to 15,000 MWh of storage
- D. At least 4 hours, aggregating to 20,000 MWh of storage
Q3. Of India's non-fossil installed electricity capacity of 283.46 GW as on 31 March 2026, solar power formed the single largest component. Which one of the following formed the second largest component?
- A. Bio energy, including bagasse-based cogeneration and waste-to-energy
- B. Nuclear power generated at stations operated by NPCIL
- C. Large hydro projects above 25 MW station capacity
- D. Wind power, both onshore and repowered installations
Q4. Consider the following statements regarding India's installed solar capacity as reported for the position on 31 March 2026:
1. Utility-scale solar accounted for 110.43 GW.
2. Grid-connected rooftop solar accounted for 35.73 GW.
3. PM-KUSUM and off-grid solar together accounted for 14.10 GW.
4. Cumulative installed solar capacity stood at 162.15 GW.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
- Utility-scale solar accounted for 110.43 GW.
- Grid-connected rooftop solar accounted for 35.73 GW.
- PM-KUSUM and off-grid solar together accounted for 14.10 GW.
- Cumulative installed solar capacity stood at 162.15 GW.
- A. 1 and 2 only
- B. 1 and 3 only
- C. 3 and 4 only
- D. 1, 2 and 4
Q5. Of the following six national solar-sector initiatives — the Jawaharlal Nehru National Solar Mission, the International Solar Alliance, PM-KUSUM, the PLI scheme for high-efficiency solar PV modules, PM Surya Ghar: Muft Bijli Yojana and PM-SSY — how many were launched or first approved during the years 2015 to 2024 (both years inclusive)?
- A. Two
- B. Three
- C. Four
- D. Five
Q6. The Jawaharlal Nehru National Solar Mission, launched in January 2010, is most accurately described as which one of the following?
- A. A statutory mission created under the Energy Conservation Act to enforce renewable purchase obligations on obligated entities
- B. An inter-governmental, treaty-based programme co-founded by India and France to mobilise finance for solar deployment
- C. One of the eight National Missions that together constitute the National Action Plan on Climate Change
- D. A centrally sponsored scheme of the Ministry of Power for solarising agricultural feeders and grid-connected pumps
Q7. Which one of the following is the nodal ministry of the Government of India for the International Solar Alliance, on whose institutional campus the ISA Headquarters is located?
- A. Ministry of External Affairs, through its Economic Diplomacy and States Division
- B. Ministry of New and Renewable Energy, through the National Institute of Solar Energy campus
- C. Ministry of Power, through the Central Electricity Authority at R.K. Puram
- D. Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, through its Climate Change Division
Q8. The amendment made to the Framework Agreement of the International Solar Alliance in 2020 effected which one of the following changes?
- A. It confined membership to states lying wholly or partly between the Tropics of Cancer and Capricorn
- B. It moved the ISA Secretariat from Abu Dhabi to Gwal Pahari in Gurugram, Haryana
- C. It converted the ISA from a treaty-based organisation into a specialised agency of the United Nations
- D. It opened membership of the Alliance to all Member States of the United Nations
Q9. Under the Model Solar Village component of PM Surya Ghar: Muft Bijli Yojana, the selected village's project is executed by which agency, and under whose supervision?
- A. The State Electricity Regulatory Commission, supervised by the Central Electricity Authority
- B. The District Rural Development Agency, supervised by the Zila Parishad standing committee
- C. The State/UT Renewable Energy Development Agency, supervised by the District Level Committee
- D. The State Load Despatch Centre, supervised by the concerned Regional Power Committee
Q10. Consider the following statements comparing the components of the Pradhan Mantri Kisan Urja Suraksha evam Utthaan Mahabhiyan (PM-KUSUM):
1. Component-A provides for decentralised ground-mounted grid-connected renewable power plants, whereas Component-B provides for standalone solar-powered agriculture pumps.
2. Component-C provides for solarisation of grid-connected agriculture pumps and, unlike Component-B, may be executed either pump-wise or through feeder-level solarisation.
3. All three components are implemented exclusively by central public sector undertakings, State agencies having no implementing role whatsoever.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
- Component-A provides for decentralised ground-mounted grid-connected renewable power plants, whereas Component-B provides for standalone solar-powered agriculture pumps.
- Component-C provides for solarisation of grid-connected agriculture pumps and, unlike Component-B, may be executed either pump-wise or through feeder-level solarisation.
- All three components are implemented exclusively by central public sector undertakings, State agencies having no implementing role whatsoever.
- A. 1 only
- B. 1 and 2 only
- C. 2 and 3 only
- D. 1, 2 and 3
Q11. With reference to the Production Linked Incentive scheme titled 'National Programme on High Efficiency Solar PV Modules', consider the following:
1. Its total outlay across tranches is ₹24,000 crore.
2. Tranche-I, with an outlay of ₹4,500 crore, was approved in April 2021.
3. Tranche-II, with an outlay of ₹19,500 crore, was approved in September 2022.
4. It is administered by the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade.
Which of the above is/are correctly identified?
- Its total outlay across tranches is ₹24,000 crore.
- Tranche-I, with an outlay of ₹4,500 crore, was approved in April 2021.
- Tranche-II, with an outlay of ₹19,500 crore, was approved in September 2022.
- It is administered by the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade.
- A. 1 and 4 only
- B. 2, 3 and 4
- C. 1, 2 and 3 only
- D. 1, 3 and 4
Q12. The National Action Plan on Climate Change, which houses the National Solar Mission, was released in which year and by which authority?
- A. In 2010, by the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change
- B. In 2008, by the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs
- C. In 2015, by the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy
- D. In 2008, by the Prime Minister, who chairs the Council on Climate Change