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? (Answer in 250 words)

Solar energy converts abundant sunlight into electricity through photovoltaic cells or concentrated solar-thermal systems. It offers a cleaner and more decentralised alternative to fossil-fuel-based generation.

• Solar generation has very low operational greenhouse-gas emissions and reduces air pollution, unlike coal and oil-based power.
• Sunlight is renewable, widely distributed and free from fuel-price volatility or import dependence.
• Rooftop and decentralised systems reduce transmission losses and can provide power to remote areas.
• Modular installation permits rapid scaling, while solar pumps can support irrigation without diesel consumption.
• It conserves water compared with many thermal plants and creates manufacturing, installation and maintenance employment.

Intermittency, storage costs, land requirements, recycling of panels, transmission constraints and mineral dependence require grid flexibility, batteries, pumped storage and responsible siting.

• National Solar Mission and renewable-energy targets to expand grid-connected and off-grid solar capacity.
• Solar parks, rooftop-solar support, net metering and capital subsidies for distributed systems.
• Kisan Urja Suraksha evam Utthaan Mahabhiyan for solar pumps and decentralised solar plants.
• Solar-wind hybrid policy, green-energy corridors and renewable purchase obligations.
• International Solar Alliance to promote technology, finance and capacity building among sunshine-rich countries.
• Production-linked support and domestic manufacturing measures for solar modules and related equipment.

A just transition requires affordable finance, domestic value chains, storage, recycling standards and grid modernisation alongside capacity expansion.

Keywords: photovoltaics, decarbonisation, distributed generation, net metering, solar parks, ISA, green-energy corridor.