UPSC Current Affairs
SOLAR PARK SCHEME
CONTEXT : Recently, Ministry of new and renewable energy (MNRE) has extended the scheme for the development of solar parks and ultra mega solar park projects till FY26 instead of FY24. ABOUT SOLAR PARK : A solar park is large chunk of land developed with transmission infrastructure, roads, water, drainage and communication network among others, with all clearances. The solar park is a concentrated zone of development of solar power generation project.
VRAuthor Desk
2 min read
CONTEXT : Recently, Ministry of new and renewable energy (MNRE) has extended the scheme for the development of solar parks and ultra mega solar park projects till FY26 instead of FY24. ABOUT SOLAR PARK : A solar park is large chunk of land developed with transmission infrastructure, roads, water, drainage and communication network among others, with all clearances. The solar park is a concentrated zone of development of solar power generation project.
CONTEXT :
- Recently, Ministry of new and renewable energy (MNRE) has extended the scheme for the development of solar parks and ultra mega solar park projects till FY26 instead of FY24.
ABOUT SOLAR PARK :
- A solar park is large chunk of land developed with transmission infrastructure, roads, water, drainage and communication network among others, with all clearances.
- The solar park is a concentrated zone of development of solar power generation project.
- Solar Park also facilitates developers by reducing the number of required approvals.
ABOUT SOLAR PARK SCHEME:
- The scheme was rolled out in December 2014 to support states and union territories set up solar parks with a view to creating the infrastructure needed for setting up of solar power projects.
- Under the scheme, the ministry provides central financial assistance (CFA) of up to ₹25 lakh per solar park for prepa- ration of detailed project report (DPR).
- Beside this, CFA of up to ₹20 lakh per MW or 30% of the project cost, including grid-connectivity cost, is also provided on achieving the milestones prescribed in the scheme.
- The extension follows slow progress in the development of solar parks.
TARGETS UNDER THE SCHEME:
- It was planned to set up at least 25 solar parks, each with a capacity of 500 MW and above.
- Thereby targeting around 20,000 MW of solar power installed capacity.
- These solar parks are proposed to be set up within in a span of five years commencing from 2014–15.
CURRENT STATUS :
- Union minister for MNRE RK Singh told Parliament in March that of the 57 solar parks with an aggregate capacity 39.28 GW. Only nine had been fully completed and another eight partially complete as of February 2023. Vajirao IAS Academy in Delhi offers a well-structured UPSC coaching fees plan, designed to accommodate both beginner IAS aspirants and repeaters. Our personalized courses are crafted to fit various budgets, ensuring high-quality education remains accessible to everyone, including those with unique learning needs.
SYLLABUS: PRELIMS, INFRASTRUCTURE
- Prelims: Key facts, institutions, locations and terminology in the article.
- Mains: Connect the topic with International Relations.
- Revision: Use the article headings to prepare concise notes and answer-writing points.
Test your understanding
Questions from this article
Prelims practiceWith reference to SOLAR PARK SCHEME, consider the following statements:
- Recently, Ministry of new and renewable energy (MNRE) has extended the scheme for the development of solar parks and ultra mega solar park projects till FY26 instead of FY24.
- A solar park is large chunk of land developed with transmission infrastructure, roads, water, drainage and communication network among others, with all clearances.
- The solar park is a concentrated zone of development of solar power generation project.
Which of the statements given above are correct?
- 1 and 2 only
- 2 and 3 only
- 1 and 3 only
- 1, 2 and 3
View answer
Answer: (d) 1, 2 and 3. All three statements are drawn from the article.
Mains practiceDiscuss the background, key issues and significance of SOLAR PARK SCHEME for India.
Answer in 250 words.
View answer approach
- CONTEXT :
- ABOUT SOLAR PARK :
- ABOUT SOLAR PARK SCHEME:
- TARGETS UNDER THE SCHEME:
- CURRENT STATUS :
Frequently asked questionsFrequently asked questions
Why is Solar Park Scheme in the news?
CONTEXT : Recently, Ministry of new and renewable energy (MNRE) has extended the scheme for the development of solar parks and ultra mega solar park projects till FY26 instead of FY24. ABOUT SOLAR PARK : A solar park is large chunk of land developed with transmission infrastructure, roads, water, drainage and communication network among others, with all clearances.
What are the key facts about Solar Park Scheme?
The solar park is a concentrated zone of development of solar power generation project. Solar Park also facilitates developers by reducing the number of required approvals. ABOUT SOLAR PARK SCHEME: The scheme was rolled out in December 2014 to support states and union territories set up solar parks with a view to creating the infrastructure needed for setting up of solar power projects.
Why is Solar Park Scheme important for UPSC preparation?
The topic connects current developments with International Relations and is relevant for both objective revision and analytical answer writing.