Wind energy harnesses the kinetic energy of moving air using wind turbines to generate electricity. It is a clean, renewable, and indigenous energy source, but its deployment is shaped strongly by geography, technology, and policy choices. India’s Installed Capacity State-wise Concentration 👉 Key UPSC insight:Wind power in India is regionally concentrated, unlike solar, which has…
Understanding the Core Idea Solar energy is energy obtained from sunlight. This sunlight can be converted directly into electrical energy using a technology called Photovoltaic (PV) cells, commonly known as solar cells. How does a solar cell actually work? Solar cells are primarily made of silicon, a semiconductor material. This entire phenomenon is governed by…
Source: International Energy Agency (IEA), World Energy Outlook 2025 International Energy Agency (IEA) World Energy Outlook Report 2025 Energy security in a volatile world Why energy has become a national security issue Present global contradictions 📌 UPSC Angle:Energy security is no longer just “fuel availability” → it is geopolitics + technology + supply chains. Climate…
Statistics: Total Installed Power Capacity in India (As on 30 November 2025 | Source: Central Electricity Authority, GoI) Fuel-wise Installed Capacity Fuel TIC (MW) % of Total Coal 2,19,610 43.1% ↓ Gas 20,122 3.9% ↓ Lignite 6,620 1.3% ↓ Diesel 589 0.1% 🔴 Total Fossil Fuel 2,46,942 48.4% ↓ Renewable & Non-Fossil Sources Source TIC…
Cleaner fuels are those fuels which: They are especially relevant for: Alcohol-based Cleaner Fuels: Methanol & Ethanol Methanol and Ethanol: Basic Understanding Both methanol and ethanol are alcohols and are increasingly discussed as alternative transport fuels. 🔸 How are they produced? 🔸 A crucial future pathway Methanol vs Ethanol (Conceptual Comparison) Methanol Ethanol 👉 Common…
Broad Classification of Energy Sources All energy sources can be broadly classified into Conventional and Non-Conventional sources. Conventional Sources of Energy These are the traditionally used energy sources that have supported human civilization for centuries. They are further divided into: (a) Conventional Non-Renewable Sources These are mostly fossil fuels, formed over millions of years and…
Introduction Why Water Conservation Has Become a Global Emergency Water is renewable, but usable freshwater is limited. What has changed in recent decades is population concentration in cities. A report by World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) warns us that: Cities under threat include: 👉 Key Insight (UPSC-ready):Urbanisation without proportional expansion in water infrastructure converts…
India’s climate response is not random or isolated schemes. It is anchored in a comprehensive national framework called the National Action Plan on Climate Change (NAPCC). 📌 What is NAPCC? The NAPCC was published in 2008 by the Prime Minister’s Council on Climate Change. Its central philosophy is: Use of new technologies + institutional reforms…
Think of ECBC as a rulebook for energy-smart buildings. 📌 What is ECBC? The Energy Conservation Building Code (ECBC) was first introduced in 2007 and later updated in 2017 by the Bureau of Energy Efficiency (BEE) under the Ministry of Power. Its core idea is simple yet powerful: “If a building consumes large amounts of…
Let us start with a simple but uncomfortable reality: India regulates pesticides primarily to promote agriculture, not to protect health.And this conflict lies at the heart of the problem. 🏛️ Existing Regulatory Framework Who registers pesticides in India? Together, they are commonly referred to as CIBRC. 📜 Governing Law Objective of the Act To regulate…
