INDIA’S SOLAR ENERGY REVOLUTION AND CLEAN POWER TRANSITION
1. India’s installed solar power capacity rose from about 3 gigawatt in 2014 to around 129 gigawatt in 2025, showing more than forty-fold expansion in just over a decade.
2. Solar has become the largest contributor within India’s renewable energy mix, moving ahead of wind and small hydro in installed clean-power capacity.
3. India crossed the milestone of sourcing more than half of its installed electricity capacity from non-fossil sources, with non-fossil capacity moving beyond 259 gigawatt in 2025.
4. India’s Panchamrit commitments include 500 gigawatt non-fossil electricity capacity by 2030, 50 percent installed capacity from non-fossil sources, and net-zero emissions by 2070.
5. PM Surya Ghar Muft Bijli Yojana, launched in February 2024, targets rooftop solar adoption in one crore households through subsidy-backed decentralised solar deployment.
6. By December 2025, nearly 23.9 lakh households had installed rooftop solar under PM Surya Ghar, adding about 7 gigawatt of distributed clean-energy capacity.
7. Subsidy disbursal under PM Surya Ghar reached about ₹13,464.6 crore by December 2025, making it one of India’s largest household solar support programmes.
8. PM-KUSUM has integrated agriculture into the solar transition by promoting standalone pumps, feeder solarisation, and grid-connected pump solarisation for farmers.
9. By late 2025, PM-KUSUM had facilitated more than 9 lakh standalone solar pumps under Component B, with large-scale progress also recorded under pump solarisation components.
10. India approved 55 solar parks across 13 states with sanctioned capacity of nearly 40 gigawatt, creating shared infrastructure for utility-scale solar generation.
11. Of the sanctioned solar park capacity, about 14,922 megawatt had already become operational by October 2025, while the remaining capacity was under implementation.
12. The Production Linked Incentive scheme for high-efficiency solar photovoltaic modules has an outlay of ₹24,000 crore to strengthen domestic manufacturing capability.
13. India ranks third globally in solar capacity and fourth in total renewable energy capacity, reflecting its rapid rise in international clean-energy deployment rankings.
14. India hosts the headquarters of the International Solar Alliance at Gurugram and continued global solar diplomacy through the 8th ISA Assembly in 2025.
15. The One Sun, One World, One Grid vision promotes cross-border renewable electricity connectivity, positioning solar cooperation as a long-term pillar of energy security and climate action.
Must Know Terms :
1. PM Surya Ghar
PM Surya Ghar Muft Bijli Yojana is India’s flagship household rooftop solar scheme launched in February 2024. It aims to cover one crore households and reduce consumer electricity costs through distributed solar generation. By December 2025, about 23.9 lakh households had adopted rooftop solar under it, adding around 7 gigawatt of capacity, with subsidy support reaching ₹13,464.6 crore.
2. PM-KUSUM
Pradhan Mantri Kisan Urja Suraksha evam Utthaan Mahabhiyaan (PM-KUSUM) is India’s agricultural solarisation scheme. It supports small grid-connected renewable plants, standalone solar pumps, and solarisation of existing grid-connected pumps. By late 2025, it had facilitated more than 9 lakh standalone solar pumps, while feeder-level and pump solarisation expanded rural clean-energy use, reduced diesel dependence, and improved farm energy access.
3. Panchamrit
Panchamrit refers to India’s major climate and energy commitments announced at COP26 in 2021. These include 500 gigawatt non-fossil electricity capacity by 2030, 50 percent installed electricity capacity from non-fossil sources, reduction of total projected carbon emissions by one billion tonnes, lowering emission intensity by 45 percent, and achieving net-zero emissions by 2070 in the long term.
4. Solar Parks
Solar Parks are large designated areas developed with common transmission and infrastructure facilities for utility-scale solar projects. India has approved 55 such parks across 13 states with nearly 40 gigawatt sanctioned capacity. By October 2025, around 14,922 megawatt had already been installed in these parks. The model reduces project risk and speeds up large-scale grid-connected solar deployment nationwide.
5. ISA
International Solar Alliance (ISA) is the global solar cooperation platform founded with Indian leadership and headquartered in Gurugram. It works on solar deployment, technology transfer, finance mobilisation, and capacity building across participating countries. By 2025, it involved more than 125 countries, and India hosted the 8th ISA Assembly, reinforcing its role in shaping international solar diplomacy and clean-energy partnerships.
6. PLI Scheme
Production Linked Incentive (PLI) Scheme for high-efficiency solar photovoltaic modules is India’s manufacturing support programme aimed at strengthening domestic solar supply chains. It has an outlay of ₹24,000 crore and is intended to expand local production of modules and components, reduce import dependence, support industrial investment, and build employment in solar manufacturing as part of India’s clean-energy transition.
MCQ:
1. With reference to India’s solar energy growth, consider the following statements:
1. India’s solar capacity increased more than forty times between 2014 and 2025.
2. Solar energy is now the largest contributor among renewable sources in India.
3. Hydropower contributes more than solar to the renewable mix at present.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
(a) 1 and 2 only
(b) 2 and 3 only
(c) 1 only
(d) 1, 2 and 3
2. India crossed a major energy milestone when:
(a) Nuclear energy overtook coal
(b) Non-fossil power exceeded 50% of installed capacity
(c) Renewable energy exports began
(d) Solar energy became cheaper than hydropower
3. India’s total installed electricity capacity is closest to:
(a) 300 GW
(b) 400 GW
(c) 500 GW
(d) 600 GW
4. Non-fossil energy in India currently includes:
(a) Only solar and wind
(b) Solar, wind and biomass only
(c) Solar, wind, hydro, nuclear and biomass
(d) Only solar and nuclear
5. The Panchamrit commitments were announced at:
(a) Rio+20
(b) COP21
(c) COP26
(d) COP28
6. Which of the following is NOT part of the Panchamrit framework?
(a) 500 GW non-fossil capacity by 2030
(b) Carbon neutrality by 2050
(c) Net Zero emissions by 2070
(d) 45% reduction in emission intensity
7. The target of reducing total projected carbon emissions by 1 billion tonnes is to be achieved by:
(a) 2025
(b) 2030
(c) 2040
(d) 2070
8. The PM Surya Ghar Muft Bijli Yojana mainly focuses on:
(a) Solar farms in deserts
(b) Rooftop solar for households
(c) Wind-solar hybrid plants
(d) Solar manufacturing parks
9. Under PM Surya Ghar Yojana, the maximum free electricity offered per month is:
(a) 100 units
(b) 200 units
(c) 300 units
(d) 400 units
10. PM-KUSUM scheme mainly integrates solar energy with:
(a) Industry
(b) Urban housing
(c) Agriculture
(d) Transport
11. A key benefit of PM-KUSUM for farmers is:
(a) Free fertilizers
(b) Income by selling surplus power
(c) Free tractors
(d) Export subsidy
12. The Production Linked Incentive scheme in the solar sector aims to:
(a) Promote solar exports
(b) Strengthen domestic manufacturing
(c) Eliminate private investment
(d) Focus only on research institutes
13. The official headquarters of the International Solar Alliance is located at:
(a) New Delhi
(b) Mumbai
(c) Gurugram
(d) Jaipur
14. India’s current global position in solar power capacity is:
(a) First
(b) Second
(c) Third
(d) Fourth
15. The concept of “One Sun, One World, One Grid” emphasises:
(a) Solar panel standardisation
(b) Cross-border renewable electricity sharing
(c) Solar pricing regulation
(d) Nuclear-solar integration
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