Explanation
- 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.
- 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.
- C
Both 1 and 2
(c) Both 1 and 2. Both statements fail, so “both” cannot be right. This option is not the key.
- 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).
Same topic · past papers
UPSC has asked this before
These previous-year questions sit on the same topic. Open one to practise the earlier ask.
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Consider the following: 1. Battery storage 2. Biomass generators 3. Fuel cells 4. Rooftop solar photovoltaic units How many of the above are considered "Distributed Energy Resources" -
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