What are the key features of the National Clean Air Programme (NCAP) initiated by the Government of India?

GS 3

Environment & Ecology

2020

15 Marks

India's solar revolution has transformed the energy landscape, with solar capacity reaching 75 GW by 2024, marking a paradigm shift from fossil fuel dependency.

Benefits of Solar Energy over Conventional Sources

Environmental Advantages

Zero Carbon Emissions: Solar energy produces no greenhouse gases during operation, unlike coal-fired plants that contribute 70% of India's CO2 emissions
Air Quality Improvement: Eliminates harmful pollutants like SO2, NOx, and particulate matter that cause respiratory diseases
Water Conservation: Requires minimal water compared to thermal plants consuming 3.2 liters per kWh
Land Restoration: Solar parks can coexist with agriculture through agri-voltaic systems
Reduced Mining Impact: Eliminates environmental degradation from coal extraction and transportation

Economic Benefits

Declining Costs: Solar tariffs dropped to ₹1.99/kWh in 2024, making it cheaper than coal power
Job Creation: Solar sector employed over 1.3 million people by 2023
Energy Security: Reduces import dependency on crude oil worth ₹17 lakh crore annually
Grid Stability: Distributed generation reduces transmission losses (currently 18-20%)
Rural Livelihood: Provides additional income to farmers through rooftop installations

Parameter	Solar Energy	Conventional Energy
Fuel Cost	Zero	₹3-4/kWh
Carbon Footprint	40-50g CO2/kWh	820-1050g CO2/kWh
Water Usage	Minimal	High (3.2L/kWh)
Operating Life	25+ years	15-20 years

Government Initiatives

National Programs

National Solar Mission: Targeting 500 GW renewable capacity by 2030
PM-KUSUM Scheme: Supporting 2.75 million off-grid solar pumps for farmers
Grid-Connected Rooftop Program: 40% subsidy for residential installations up to 3kW
Solar Park Scheme: Developing 50 solar parks with 37.5 GW capacity
Atal Jyoti Yojana: Solar street lighting in rural areas

Recent Initiatives (2023-2025)

Production Linked Incentive (PLI): ₹4,500 crore for domestic solar manufacturing
Green Hydrogen Mission: ₹19,744 crore investment linking solar with hydrogen production
One Sun One World One Grid: International solar energy cooperation initiative

India's solar capacity growth from 2.6 GW (2014) to 75 GW (2024) exemplifies successful renewable transition, supporting Panchamrit commitments and sustainable development goals for a carbon-neutral future by 2070.

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