In which year Rajasthan Solar Energy Policy was declared?

Correct — option (3), 2019.

The Energy Department, Government of Rajasthan, published the policy as the Rajasthan Solar Energy Policy, 2019. Its clause 3.2 says: "The Policy will come into operation with effect from 18.12.2019 and will remain in force until superseded by another Policy."

Clause 1.13 gives the reason for a new policy: "To keep pace with the changing needs of the solar energy sector, State Government has decided to review the existing Rajasthan Solar Energy Policy, 2014."

The line of policies is set out in the document itself. Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot's foreword says the State formulated its first Solar Policy in 2011; clause 1.13 names the 2014 policy; the new one is the policy of 2019.

The Economic Review 2021-22, published after the exam, refers to the same document as the "investor friendly Rajasthan Solar Energy Policy, 2019". So the year of the policy is 2019.

The idea to remember: Rajasthan's solar policies: 2011 (first), 2014, and 2019 (in operation from 18 December 2019).

Why the others are wrong

• (1)
  2015 — The 2019 document names the policy it reviewed as the Rajasthan Solar Energy Policy, 2014, not one of 2015.

  Its clause 14.6 treats projects registered under the 2014 policy in the three years before the new policy began as registered under the 2019 policy, with the same registration number.

• (2)
  2017 — 2017 falls between the two policies the 2019 document names: the Rajasthan Solar Energy Policy, 2014, which it reviewed, and the new policy.

  The new policy's own clause 3.2 fixes its start: in operation from 18 December 2019.

• (4)
  2018 — The new policy was announced after 2018. Energy Minister B. D. Kalla's message in the document says the Chief Minister announced a new Solar Policy in the Budget speech for 2019-20.

  The policy then came into operation from 18 December 2019, under clause 3.2.

A State solar policy sets targets and rules for solar power in the State: who registers and approves projects, how land is allotted, and which incentives apply.

Clause 5.1 of the 2019 policy aims at a target of 30,000 MW of solar power projects up to 2024-25: 24,000 MW of utility or grid-scale solar parks, 4,000 MW distributed generation, 1,000 MW solar rooftop and 1,000 MW solar pumps. These are targets, not capacity already built.

Clause 6 names Rajasthan Renewable Energy Corporation Limited (RREC) as the nodal agency for registering and approving projects and developing solar parks.

Key facts

• Rajasthan Solar Energy Policy, 2019, clause 3.2: in operation with effect from 18 December 2019, in force until superseded by another policy.
• Clause 1.13: the State reviewed the existing Rajasthan Solar Energy Policy, 2014.
• Chief Minister's foreword: the State formulated its first Solar Policy in 2011; solar generation potential assessed at 142 GW.
• Clause 5.1: target of 30,000 MW of solar power projects up to 2024-25, including 24,000 MW of utility or grid-scale solar parks.
• Clause 6: Rajasthan Renewable Energy Corporation Limited (RREC) is the nodal agency under the policy.

Common traps

• Picking the year the policy was being prepared: the new policy was announced in the Budget speech for 2019-20 and came into operation on 18 December 2019.
• Reading the 30,000 MW figure as capacity built: clause 5.1 sets it as a target up to 2024-25.
• Mixing the solar and wind documents: the Rajasthan Wind & Hybrid Energy Policy-2019 is a separate policy, issued on 18 December 2019.

• practice — not a real PYQ

  Under the Rajasthan Solar Energy Policy, 2019, which body acts as the nodal agency?

  • (a)Rajasthan Rajya Vidyut Utpadan Nigam Limited
  • (b)Rajasthan Renewable Energy Corporation Limited
  • (c)Rajasthan Rajya Vidyut Prasaran Nigam Limited
  • (d)Bureau of Energy Efficiency
  Answer(2) — Clause 6 of the policy names RREC as the nodal agency for registration and approval of projects and development of solar parks. Options (1), (3) and (4) are other power-sector bodies that clause 6 does not name as the nodal agency.
• practice — not a real PYQ

  The Rajasthan Solar Energy Policy, 2019 aims at a target of solar power projects of what capacity up to 2024-25?

  • (a)10,000 MW
  • (b)24,000 MW
  • (c)30,000 MW
  • (d)1,42,000 MW
  Answer(3) — Clause 5.1 sets a target of 30,000 MW up to 2024-25. Option (2), 24,000 MW, is only the utility or grid-scale solar park component. Option (4) matches the 142 GW of assessed potential, not the target. Option (1) is not a figure in the clause.