UPSC Prelims Practice Questions — Agri-Voltaics

Q1. Consider the following statements: Which of the following is correct in respect of the above statements?

  1. Agrivoltaic systems are considered especially beneficial for farming in hot and dry regions.
  2. Shade from the solar panels increases evaporation of water from the soil, and this evaporation cools the crop canopy.
  • A. Both Statement-I and Statement-II are correct and Statement-II explains Statement-I
  • B. Both Statement-I and Statement-II are correct, but Statement-II does not explain Statement-I
  • C. Statement-I is correct, but Statement-II is incorrect
  • D. Statement-I is incorrect, but Statement-II is correct

Q2. On a farm, one hectare under an agrivoltaic system produces 75% of the crop output of one hectare of open-field cultivation, and 80% of the electricity output of one hectare of conventional ground-mounted solar. Which of the following inferences can be drawn from the above?

  1. Producing the same quantities of crop and electricity on separate single-use plots would need about 1.55 hectares.
  2. Because crop output per hectare has fallen, the agrivoltaic hectare uses land less productively than single-use cultivation.
  3. Any other crop grown under the same panel layout on this farm would also give a combined output above that of single-use land.
  • A. 2 and 3 only
  • B. 1 and 3 only
  • C. 1 and 2 only
  • D. 1 only

Q3. Consider the following statements: Which of the following is correct in respect of the above statements?

  1. Not every solar power plant set up under Component A of PM-KUSUM is an agrivoltaic system.
  2. The electricity from Component A plants is purchased by DISCOMs instead of being used only to run the host farmer's own pumps.
  • A. Both Statement-I and Statement-II are correct and Statement-II explains Statement-I
  • B. Both Statement-I and Statement-II are correct, but Statement-II does not explain Statement-I
  • C. Statement-I is correct, but Statement-II is incorrect
  • D. Statement-I is incorrect, but Statement-II is correct

Q4. According to Land Use Statistics 2023-24 cited in a recent explainer on agrivoltaics, India's reporting area was 306.96 million ha, its net sown area 138.99 million ha and its gross cropped area 217.88 million ha. Which of the following inferences can be drawn from the above?

  1. The area sown more than once during the year was about 78.9 million ha.
  2. India's cropping intensity in 2023-24 was about 157%.
  3. Net sown area was less than half of the reporting area.
  4. Gross cropped area exceeding net sown area shows that the net sown area expanded during the year.
  • A. 1 and 2 only
  • B. 1, 2 and 3 only
  • C. 1, 3 and 4 only
  • D. 2, 3 and 4 only

Q5. Consider the following statements: Which of the following is correct in respect of the above statements?

  1. Vegetables, spices and medicinal plants are generally regarded as better suited to agrivoltaic cultivation than shade-intolerant cereals such as maize.
  2. The shade cast by solar panels raises the soil and canopy temperature beneath them, which speeds up the growth of such crops.
  • A. Both Statement-I and Statement-II are correct and Statement-II explains Statement-I
  • B. Both Statement-I and Statement-II are correct, but Statement-II does not explain Statement-I
  • C. Statement-I is correct, but Statement-II is incorrect
  • D. Statement-I is incorrect, but Statement-II is correct

Q6. Consider the following statements: Which of the following is correct in respect of the above statements?

  1. PM-KUSUM Component A cannot be treated as synonymous with an agrivoltaics programme.
  2. Component A also supports ground-mounted plants on barren or uncultivable land, where no cropping takes place beneath the panels.
  • A. Both Statement-I and Statement-II are correct and Statement-II explains Statement-I
  • B. Both Statement-I and Statement-II are correct, but Statement-II does not explain Statement-I
  • C. Statement-I is correct, but Statement-II is incorrect
  • D. Statement-I is incorrect, but Statement-II is correct

Q7. Diesel-run irrigation pumps in a region are replaced by solar pumps. Consider the following statements about the likely consequences: Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

  1. Since an additional hour of pumping costs the farmer almost nothing, the farmer's private incentive to conserve groundwater weakens.
  2. If the farmer can sell surplus solar electricity to the DISCOM, every unit used for pumping carries an opportunity cost, which can encourage water saving.
  3. The switch raises the farmer's recurring cost of irrigation, though it lowers the upfront capital cost of the pumping system.
  • A. 2 and 3 only
  • B. 1 and 2 only
  • C. 1 only
  • D. 1 and 3 only

Q8. With reference to the configurations of agrivoltaic systems, consider the following statements: Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

  1. A greenhouse whose roof incorporates photovoltaic modules is a closed agrivoltaic system.
  2. In an interspace layout, panels are mounted on tall frames directly above the crop canopy.
  3. Overhead panels on tall frames make a closed system because the crop beneath is covered by the panel canopy.
  • A. 1 and 3 only
  • B. 1 and 2 only
  • C. 1 only
  • D. 2 and 3 only