Q67 · UPSC Prelims 2018 · Set A · Current Affairs and GK

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With reference to solar power production in India, consider the following statements:1.India is the third largest in the world in the manufacture of silicon wafers used in photovoltaic units.2.The solar power tariffs are determined by the Solar Energy Corporation of India.Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

A 1 only
B 2 only
C Both 1 and 2
D Neither 1 nor 2

Correct answer: (d) Neither 1 nor 2

Explanation

  1. A

    1 only

    (a) 1 only. India is not the world’s third-largest maker of silicon wafers for PV; it imports most wafers and cells’ upstream silicon. Statement 1 is false, so it cannot stand alone as the answer. This option is not the key.

  2. B

    2 only

    (b) 2 only. Solar tariffs in India are discovered mainly through competitive bidding and adopted by CERC/SERCs; SECI is a CPSU implementer and offtaker, not the tariff-setting regulator. Statement 2 is false. This option is not the key.

  3. C

    Both 1 and 2

    (c) Both 1 and 2. Both statements fail, so “both” cannot be right. This option is not the key.

  4. D

    Neither 1 nor 2

    (d) Neither 1 nor 2. India lacks that wafer-manufacturing rank, and SECI does not determine solar tariffs. Neither statement is correct. This option is the official key.

Summary. Official key is (d) Neither 1 nor 2. Silicon-wafer manufacturing is concentrated in East Asia; India was not third in the world on that metric. Solar Energy Corporation of India runs tenders and may be offtaker, but tariff adoption sits with the electricity regulators after bid discovery. Both given statements are therefore wrong. The WRAP key is (d).

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