MCQs with answers on India’s Solar Energy Mission: Achievements and Challenges

1. What is the primary goal of India’s National Solar Mission (NSM)?

A) To increase coal production
B) To promote the use of solar energy
C) To reduce petroleum imports
D) To reduce dependence on hydropower

Answer: B) To promote the use of solar energy

2. In which year was the National Solar Mission launched?

A) 2005
B) 2008
C) 2010
D) 2012

Answer: C) 2010

3. What is the targeted solar power capacity under India’s National Solar Mission by 2022?

A) 20 GW
B) 50 GW
C) 100 GW
D) 200 GW

Answer: C) 100 GW

4. The National Solar Mission is part of which broader government initiative?

A) Clean Energy Development Programme
B) Swachh Bharat Mission
C) National Action Plan on Climate Change (NAPCC)
D) Make in India

Answer: C) National Action Plan on Climate Change (NAPCC)

5. What is the expected contribution of solar energy to India’s energy capacity by 2030?

A) 50%
B) 20%
C) 10%
D) 5%

Answer: B) 20%

6. Which of the following states has the highest solar power generation capacity in India?

A) Gujarat
B) Maharashtra
C) Rajasthan
D) Uttar Pradesh

Answer: C) Rajasthan

7. The Jawaharlal Nehru National Solar Mission (JNNSM) aims to increase India’s solar power capacity to how much by 2030?

A) 100 GW
B) 200 GW
C) 500 GW
D) 300 GW

Answer: B) 200 GW

8. In which year did India become one of the world’s largest producers of solar power?

A) 2015
B) 2016
C) 2017
D) 2018

Answer: C) 2017

9. Which company has been a major contributor to the solar panel manufacturing industry in India?

A) Tata Power Solar
B) Adani Solar
C) L&T Solar
D) Both A and B

Answer: D) Both A and B

10. What is the main challenge faced by India in achieving its solar energy targets?

A) High costs of solar panel manufacturing
B) Lack of government support
C) Limited land availability
D) Inconsistent solar radiation

Answer: C) Limited land availability

11. Which of the following financial schemes has India introduced to support the installation of solar energy systems?

A) PMGDISHA
B) Solar Rooftop Subsidy Scheme
C) National Clean Energy Fund
D) Atal Mission for Rejuvenation and Urban Transformation

Answer: B) Solar Rooftop Subsidy Scheme

12. What is the approximate share of solar energy in India’s total renewable energy capacity as of 2020?

A) 10%
B) 25%
C) 35%
D) 50%

Answer: B) 25%

13. Which of the following solar technologies is commonly used in India for generating electricity?

A) Concentrated Solar Power (CSP)
B) Photovoltaic Solar (PV)
C) Solar Thermal
D) Both A and B

Answer: B) Photovoltaic Solar (PV)

14. In which year did India announce its ambitious target of achieving 175 GW of renewable energy capacity by 2022?

A) 2014
B) 2015
C) 2016
D) 2017

Answer: B) 2015

15. What is the role of the Solar Energy Corporation of India (SECI)?

A) Policy formulation
B) Developing solar energy projects
C) Manufacturing solar panels
D) None of the above

Answer: B) Developing solar energy projects

16. Which is the first state in India to implement a solar power policy?

A) Gujarat
B) Rajasthan
C) Tamil Nadu
D) Kerala

Answer: A) Gujarat

17. As of 2020, which country is the largest producer of solar power in the world?

A) India
B) USA
C) China
D) Japan

Answer: C) China

18. What is the Solar Park Scheme in India?

A) A program to build solar-powered houses
B) Large-scale solar power plants in one location
C) A scheme to reduce solar power tariffs
D) A government-funded research project

Answer: B) Large-scale solar power plants in one location

19. Which Indian government scheme provides incentives for installing rooftop solar panels on residential and commercial buildings?

A) Ujjwala Yojana
B) PMAY
C) Pradhan Mantri Kisan Urja Suraksha Evam Utthaan Mahabhiyan (PM-KUSUM)
D) Rooftop Solar Programme

Answer: D) Rooftop Solar Programme

20. Which of the following countries is a key partner of India in its solar energy mission?

A) Russia
B) United States
C) Germany
D) China

Answer: C) Germany

21. In 2018, India’s renewable energy sector surpassed which fossil fuel energy source in terms of installed capacity?

A) Coal
B) Oil
C) Natural Gas
D) Nuclear

Answer: A) Coal

22. What is the primary benefit of India’s solar energy mission to the agricultural sector?

A) Increased subsidy for farmers
B) Solar-powered irrigation systems
C) Free electricity for farmers
D) Reduced dependence on coal

Answer: B) Solar-powered irrigation systems

23. What is the key objective of the PM-KUSUM scheme?

A) To provide solar panels to every household
B) To promote solar energy use for water pumps in the agricultural sector
C) To provide free electricity to villages
D) To set up solar parks

Answer: B) To promote solar energy use for water pumps in the agricultural sector

24. Which of the following is a challenge in solar power adoption in rural India?

A) Lack of technical expertise
B) High cost of solar panels
C) Unreliable electricity grid infrastructure
D) All of the above

Answer: D) All of the above

25. The International Solar Alliance (ISA) was launched by India and which other country?

A) Japan
B) United States
C) France
D) Germany

Answer: C) France

26. Which Indian state aims to generate 40% of its electricity from renewable sources by 2030?

A) Maharashtra
B) Gujarat
C) Tamil Nadu
D) Himachal Pradesh

Answer: D) Himachal Pradesh

27. What is the role of the National Institute of Solar Energy (NISE) in India’s solar mission?

A) Manufacturing solar panels
B) Conducting research and development in solar technology
C) Policy formulation
D) Installing solar energy systems

Answer: B) Conducting research and development in solar technology

28. Which Indian government initiative provides financial support to states and private entities for solar power projects?

A) Atal Mission
B) Ujjwala Yojana
C) Solar Park Scheme
D) National Mission for Clean Ganga

Answer: C) Solar Park Scheme

29. What percentage of India’s installed solar capacity comes from solar rooftop systems?

A) 10%
B) 20%
C) 30%
D) 40%

Answer: B) 20%

30. Which of the following is a major environmental benefit of solar energy?

A) Reduction in carbon emissions
B) Increased water consumption
C) Increase in deforestation
D) Increased air pollution

Answer: A) Reduction in carbon emissions