Non-conventional energy sources are those energy sources, that are -

Question

UnlockIAS · Accepted Answer

Correct — B, Renewable. Non-conventional (or 'new and renewable') energy sources are those that replenish naturally on a human timescale and are not exhausted with use — solar, wind, small hydro, biomass, geothermal, tidal and ocean energy. They are the counterpart of conventional fossil fuels (coal, petroleum, natural gas), which are finite. India administers them through a dedicated Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE). Hence the defining feature of non-conventional sources is that they are renewable.

Why the other options are wrong — (a) This reverses the relationship — non-conventional sources such as solar and wind are used to GENERATE electricity; they are not 'produced from' electricity.  (c) Being produced from heat is not the defining feature — geothermal uses Earth's heat, but solar PV, wind and tidal energy do not; the common thread across all of them is that they are renewable, not heat-derived.  (d) This is the exact opposite — non-renewable (finite) sources such as coal, petroleum and natural gas are the CONVENTIONAL sources, not the non-conventional ones.

Concept: Energy sources are classified as conventional versus non-conventional. Conventional sources — coal, petroleum, natural gas and firewood — are largely finite and non-renewable. Non-conventional (new and renewable) sources — solar, wind, small hydro, biomass, geothermal, tidal and ocean energy — replenish naturally and are inexhaustible on a human timescale. India promotes them through the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE).

State PCS 2023 Q141 — Geography PYQ with Answer

State PCS 2023 Q141 — Geography PYQ with Answer