📘 IAS Prelims 2025 — GS-III | Q.70 | Classroom Explanation

(Current Affairs: Government Schemes | Energy Transition)

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📌 Question

Q.70) Consider the following statements about PM Surya Ghar: Muft Bijli Yojana:

Statement I: It targets installation of one crore solar rooftop panels in the residential sector.
Statement II: The Ministry of New and Renewable Energy aims to impart training on installation, operation, maintenance and repairs of solar rooftop systems at grassroot levels.
Statement III: It aims to create more than three lakhs skilled manpower through fresh skilling and up-skilling under the scheme component of capacity building.

Which of the statements given above are correct?

(a) I and II only
(b) I and III only
(c) II and III only
(d) I, II and III

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✅ Correct Answer: (d) I, II and III

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🧑‍🏫 Classroom Explanation

This question tests government scheme literacy + energy transition + skill development, a high-yield GS-III theme.

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🔍 Core Overview of the Scheme

• PM Surya Ghar: Muft Bijli Yojana was approved on 29 February 2024.
• It is the world’s largest domestic rooftop solar initiative.
• Implemented by Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE).

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🔍 Statement-wise Analysis

✅ Statement I: Correct

• The scheme targets one crore residential households for rooftop solar installation by March 2027.
• Objective: Provide free electricity up to a prescribed limit and reduce household electricity bills.

➡️ Statement I is correct.

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✅ Statement II: Correct

• MNRE has explicitly included grassroot-level capacity building.
• Training covers:
  • Installation
  • Operation
  • Maintenance
  • Repair of rooftop solar systems

➡️ This ensures local availability of skilled manpower, reducing implementation bottlenecks.

➡️ Statement II is correct.

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✅ Statement III: Correct

• Under the capacity building component, the scheme aims to create over 3 lakh skilled manpower.
• Out of this:
  • At least 1 lakh Solar PV Technicians will be trained.
• Includes both fresh skilling and up-skilling.

➡️ Statement III is correct.

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🧮 Logical Elimination (UPSC Style)

Statement	Status
I	✅ Correct
II	✅ Correct
III	✅ Correct

➡️ Correct option: (d) I, II and III

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🔑 High-Value Add-On Points (Exam Gold)

🔹 1. Strategic Significance (1-liner)

PM Surya Ghar Yojana integrates energy security, climate action and employment generation in one scheme.

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🔹 2. Three Pillars of the Scheme (Easy Recall)

• Households → Free electricity & savings
• DISCOMs → Load management & decentralised generation
• Youth → Jobs through green skilling

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🔹 3. Capacity Building Scope (Often Tested)

Training extends to:

• DISCOMs
• Renewable Energy Development Agencies (REDAs)
• Financial institutions
• State & Central officials

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🔹 4. UPSC Trap Alert 🚨

• Households ≠ panels (target is households, not modules count)
• Subsidy ≠ free panels (free electricity via subsidy support)
• Skill creation is an explicit objective, not incidental

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📍 GS Mapping

• GS Paper III
• Energy | Renewable Energy | Government Schemes | Skill Development

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🎯 Final Exam Lock

PM Surya Ghar = Rooftop Solar + Free Power + Green Jobs

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