India is now Third-Largest Producer of Solar Power

As per the findings of a survey published by the International Energy Analytics Agency Ember, India surpassed Japan to secure the third position in the global solar power production hierarchy in 2023.

Production of Solar Energy Worldwide:

• China is the world’s top generator of solar energy, with 584 BU produced in 2024, more than the combined output of the following four nations (Germany, India, Japan, and the United States).
• In 2023, India produced 113 billion solar power units (BU), whereas Japan produced 110 BU.
• As of March 2024, the installed solar energy capacity has grown by thirty times during the previous nine years, to 81.81 GW.
• The National Institute of Solar Energy (NISE) has projected that India has a solar energy potential of 748 GWp.
• After increasing in 2021 and 2022, Japan’s power demand fell by 2% (2 BU) in 2023, allowing India to surpass Japan.

Other factors to make India the third-largest Solar power producer in 2023:

• Government Initiatives: To encourage renewable energy, especially solar power, India has put in place a number of laws and programs.
• throughout order to encourage the growth and application of solar energy throughout the nation, the government established the Jawaharlal Nehru National Solar Mission (JNNSM) in 2010.
• Later, a number of state-level laws and subsidies were unveiled to promote the production of solar energy.
• The Gujarat Solar Energy Policy, for instance, aims to produce 36 GW of solar energy by 2036.
• Investment and Financing: Both domestic and foreign investors have made major contributions to India’s solar power industry.
• For instance, the Muft Bijli Yojana, a program of PM Surya Ghar, is expected to require an investment of ₹75,000 crore.
• beneficial Geography: India is ideally situated for the production of solar electricity due to its year-round abundance of sunlight. India’s land area receives around 5,000 trillion kWh of energy annually, with the majority of regions receiving 4–7 kWh per sq m/day.
• Rising Energy Demand: India’s economic and population growth have raised the country’s energy needs. Based on increased economic activity, India’s electricity demand increased by 7% in 2023 and is expected to expand at an average rate of 6% year through 2026, according to the International Energy Agency.
• International Cooperation: In order to maximize knowledge, technology transfer, and financing for solar projects, India has worked with a number of other nations and international organizations. The International Solar Alliance (ISA) is one example.

Way Forward:

• Invest in High-Efficiency Panels: Select solar panels that have high-efficiency cells, including monocrystalline photovoltaic cells, as these can convert a higher proportion of solar radiation into electrical energy that can be used.
• Make Use of Energy Storage Options To increase the overall efficiency of the solar energy system, think about combining energy storage equipment, such batteries, to store excess energy produced during the day and use it at night or during times of low sunshine.

Q Describe the benefits of deriving electric energy from sunlight in contrast to the conventional energy generation. What are the initiatives offered by our government for this purpose? (2020)

Giving primacy to human development

• Some significant aspects of India’s progress are shown by two recent publications.
• The UNDP’s Human Development Report 2023–24 maps the accomplishments in the field of human development from a comparative standpoint.
• Long-term trends in income and wealth inequality in India between 1922 and 2023 are presented in a document released by the World Inequality Lab in March 2024.

Poor ranking in HDI:

• Regional Trends: India continues to lag behind some nations, notably Bhutan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, and China, despite a little improvement in its HDI ranking over time. India came in at number 134 out of 193 countries in 2022.
• Low HDI Value: India’s HDI value is still comparatively low, even with the little gain in ranking. In 2022, the HDI value was 0.644, up from 0.633 in 2021.
• Index of Gender Inequality (GII): Gender gaps remain severe even though India’s GII rating improved in 2022, going from 122 out of 191 nations in 2021 to 108 out of 193 countries in 2022. Significant differences exist between men’s (76.1%) and women’s (28.3%) labor force participation rates, making India one of the countries with the biggest gender disparities in this regard.
• Categories for Medium Human Development: According to the HDI rating, India is categorized among nations like Ghana, Kenya, Burma, Congo, and Angola.

Principal issues concerning human development:

• Growing Divide Across Nationalities: The research highlights a worrying pattern of rising international inequality, especially between the wealthiest and poorest nations as measured by the Human Development Index (HDI).
• Economic Concentration: The world’s inequality is being exacerbated by the concentration of economic power in a small number of nations. Three or fewer countries dominate nearly 40% of the world’s goods commerce.

Way Forward:

• Encourage the Adoption of Inclusive Growth Policies: Put into practice policies that place a high priority on inclusive growth, with an emphasis on lowering income gaps and improving access to economic, healthcare, and educational opportunities for all societal groups.
• Strengthen social safety nets, such as targeted welfare programs, universal healthcare coverage, and unemployment benefits, to better help vulnerable populations.

Q Despite the consistent experience of high growth, India still goes with the lowest indicators of human development. Examine the issues that make balanced and inclusive development elusive.( 2019)

CARBON FARMING

There are carbon farming systems that can lower greenhouse gas emissions.

Context:

• It is possible to address climate change and meet food demands at the same time by implementing carbon-smart farming practices.

About CARBON FARMING :

• A group of methods called “carbon farming,” sometimes referred to as “carbon sequestration,” are used to try and lower greenhouse gas emissions from land usage and agriculture.
• Its goal was to store carbon in the soil, leaves, wood, and crop roots.

Key Techniques in Carbon Farming:

• Rotational grazing: This practice alternates cattle between pastures to promote soil carbon storage by allowing flora to regrow.
• Using trees and shrubs in farming systems to store carbon in vegetation is known as agroforestry.
• Crop rotation, cover crops, and zero tillage are examples of conservation agriculture techniques that reduce soil disturbance and increase organic matter.
• Integrated Nutrient Management: Enhancing soil fertility and lowering emissions through the use of compost and organic fertilizers.
• Livestock management aims to reduce methane emissions by regulating animal waste and optimizing feed quality.

Challenges in Implementation:

• Geographical Factors: Water availability, crop choice, soil type, and location all affect effectiveness.
• Biodiversity: To prevent unfavorable effects like the loss of biodiversity, practices must be balanced with the preservation of ecosystem services.
• Policy and Community Engagement: For adoption to be successful, there must be enough community support and policy backing.

RECHARGE WELLS

In just one month, the Bangalore Water Supply and Sewerage Board built over 900 recharge wells throughout the city.

Context:

• The Cauvery River’s depletion of water is not the only factor contributing to Bengaluru’s present water problem. Rather, it results from insufficient water tanks for replenishing groundwater and ineffective rainfall collection techniques.

RECHARGE WELLS

• Groundwater can be immediately replenished through the use of recharge wells.
• They are essential to sustaining sustainable water supply and recharging aquifers.
• Usually, these wells have deep shafts, with diameters between 0.5 and 3 meters and depths between 10 and 15 meters.
• They make it possible for excess water, like rains, to seep into the aquifer and replenish the groundwater.

Benefits of Recharge Wells:

• Groundwater replenishment: Recharge wells aid in the maintenance of groundwater levels by enabling rainwater to seep into the earth. This is particularly crucial when wells are in danger of drying up or during dry spells.
• Environmental Sustainability: By maintaining a balanced water cycle, recharge wells help to protect the health of the environment as a whole. They stop erosion and excessive runoff.
• Agricultural Productivity: Farmers who have access to more water can grow two or three crops annually, which raises their standard of living and income. Additionally, labor and irrigation input costs are decreased by efficient water utilization.
• metropolitan Water Management: Recharge wells assist control stormwater runoff, lessen flooding, and keep water tables steady in metropolitan areas.
• Energy Savings: Recharge wells can raise groundwater levels, which can result in energy savings. For example, a one-meter increase in water level results in an electricity savings of about 0.4 kWh.