UPSC Key: Joint military stations, India-EU FTA talks, and Air defence radars

Preliminary Examination: Current events of national and international importance

Mains Examination: General Studies-III: Various Security forces and agencies and their mandate

What’s the ongoing story: In a move to bring greater jointness and integration among the Armed Forces, India’s top military hierarchy on Wednesday decided to form three joint military stations — the first in the country — and also agreed to merge the education branches of the three defence services into a single tri-services Education Corps.

Key Points to Ponder:

— How many defence services are there in India?

— What is the significance of the joint military stations?

— What is Theaterisation? What are the ongoing efforts in this regard?

— What are the concerns raised in Theaterisation?

— What are the emerging threats and future challenges in a rapidly evolving security landscape?

Key Takeaways:

— The decisions, announced on the final day of the three-day Combined Commanders’ Conference held in Kolkata, come amid ongoing discussions on creating integrated theatre commands.

— While the locations of the three joint military stations are not known immediately, sources told The Indian Express that a few sites, including Mumbai, Bengaluru, Ahmedabad, Gwalior, Pune and Secunderbad, have been under discussions.

— A joint military station would effectively mean that all facilities of the Army, Navy and Indian Air Force will be combined — including logistics, infrastructure, repair and maintenance as well as stores and supplies — so that they can be optimised and brought under a common lead service.

— The decision to create three joint military stations would thus be effective in bringing greater integration among the three services, and also help in optimisation of manpower, infrastructure and assets.

— It would also offer a glimpse, albeit on a much smaller scale, of whether integrated tri-service units function effectively if India goes ahead with the creation of theatre commands.

— Similarly, the decision on the creation of a tri-services Education Corps is also aimed at increasing jointness, while ensuring rationalisation of manpower, optimisation of infrastructure and administration, and better integration of personnel of the three services.

— Greater efforts to integrate the services have begun from the time the Indian military has been actively working to implement the reform of theaterisation. Theaterisation seeks to integrate the Army, Navy and IAF, and their resources, into specific “theatre” commands for operational deployment under a single, unified command structure in a specific geographical region.

— The IAF has expressed reservations, primarily on the ground that it would further divide its scarce combat assets.

— According to a government statement, the third day of the Combined Commanders’ Conference focused on understanding emerging threats and future challenges in a rapidly evolving security landscape.

Do You Know:

— The theaterisation plan seeks to integrate the Army, Navy, Air Force, and their resources into specific ‘theatre’ commands, for deployment under a single, unified command structure.

— Each command will be assigned a specific geographical region, combining the resources of the three services for operational roles.

— The Army and IAF currently have seven commands each, and the Navy has three. In addition, there are two tri-service commands — the Andaman and Nicobar Command and the Strategic Forces Command (SFC), which manages India’s nuclear arsenal.

— There is also the Headquarters Integrated Defence Staff (HQIDS), which was created after the Kargil conflict to fulfil the need for an institutional framework for higher management of defence.

Other Important Articles Covering the same topic:

📍Explained: India’s plan for creating theatre commands in defence, and the challenges

Practice Mains Question Covering similar theme:

What is the significance of Integrated Theatre Commands? Discuss the challenges of implementing integrated theatre commands in India.

Trade, tech, defence: EU rolls out new strategic roadmap for India

Syllabus:

Preliminary Examination: Current events of national and international importance.

Main Examination: General Studies-II: Bilateral, regional and global groupings and agreements involving India and/or affecting India’s interests

General Studies-III: Effects of liberalisation on the economy, changes in industrial policy and their effects on industrial growth.

What’s the ongoing story: At a time when New Delhi is taking one step at a time in dealing with the US administration under President Donald Trump, the European Union announced “a new strategic agenda to raise bilateral relations with India to a higher level”. This includes a range of areas from trade and technology to defence, security, connectivity and climate change.

Key Points to Ponder:

— What is the status of India-EU FTA?

— What is the India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor (IMEC)?

— What are the key areas of cooperation between India and the EU?

— What are the points of contention in the ongoing trade deal between India and the EU?

— What is the Trade and Technology Council (TTC)?

— What is the objective of the India-EU Summit?

— What is the Global Gateway?

Key Takeaways:

— Announcing the initiative, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said, “Now is the time to double down on partnerships rooted in shared interests and guided by common values. With our new EU-India strategy, we are taking our relationship to the next level.”

— High Representative Kaja Kallas, who is the top diplomat leading EU’s foreign policy, said the College of Commissioners (members of 27 EU countries) has hesitations on areas where they have disagreements.

— President von der Leyen also said EU was committed to finalising a Free Trade Agreement by the end of the year.

— Prime Minister Modi also reiterated his invitation for the next India-EU Summit to be held in India next year, it said.

— The joint communication adopted by the EC comes months after the visit of the College of Commissioners to India in February this year, and outlines the EU’s strategic vision for enhancing cooperation with New Delhi.

— The Joint Communication also takes forward the proposed EU-India Security and Defence Partnership. This will enhance strategic consultations and joint initiatives, including on crisis management, maritime security, cyber defence, and counterterrorism…

— The Joint Communication also emphasised strengthening regional connectivity initiatives, such as the India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor (IMEC) and advances Global Gateway and EU-India trilateral cooperation with and in third countries.

— It aims to enhance cooperation with India in multilateral forums and encourage India to advance international law, multilateral values and global governance. It also prioritises maximising interaction and strengthening EU-India coordination at all levels.

— It proposes developing a comprehensive mobility cooperation framework covering study, work, and research. In addition to deeper engagement with civil society, youth and think tanks, further reach out to the businesses community is supported by the proposal for an EU-India Business Forum.

Economy: India eyes broad-based investments from EU, access to legal & accounting services; convergence on automobile, alcoholic beverages pending

— India is eyeing investment commitments from the European Union in broad-based sectors, access into legal, accounting and IT services sectors, under the comprehensive trade deal that both partners aim to sign by the end of the year.

— However, negotiators are yet to converge on thorny issues such as market access in automobile and alcoholic beverages sectors, along with several non-tariff measures that push compliance costs higher for Indian companies, a senior government official said.

— The trade agreement with the EU assumes significance as India is facing stiff 50 per cent tariffs in the US market, which threatens to disrupt exports worth over $40 billion, and exporters are hoping for the finalisation of the deal with the EU for relief, particularly for the labour-intensive sectors.

— The EU is also India’s second-largest export market and the largest source of investment in the services sector.

— The European Commission, in a report to the European Parliament on Wednesday, said that the EU is India’s largest trading partner and India is the EU’s largest trade partner in the Global South.

— In 2024, bilateral trade in goods reached €120 billion — an increase of nearly 90 per cent over the past decade and around 6,000 European companies operate in India.

— India accounts for less than 2.5 per cent of the EU’s trade in goods and services, and Indian investment in the EU totals only Euro 10 billion. Key barriers in India include high tariffs and internal measures that restrict import competition, limit foreign direct investment, and constrain business opportunities on both sides.

— The report said that the EU is committed to scaling up investments in India through ‘Global Gateway’, by de-risking private-sector investment with guarantees and blended finance.

— Global Gateway is the European Union’s strategy to boost smart, clean and secure connections in digital, energy and transport sectors, and to strengthen health, education and research systems across the world.

Do You Know:

— The India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor (IMEC) is a connectivity project that seeks to develop a seamless infrastructure of ports, railways, roads, sea lines and pipelines to enhance trade among India, the Arabian Peninsula, the Mediterranean region and Europe.

— The IMEC aims to capitalise on the existing trade routes between India and the Arab Gulf and the Eastern Mediterranean and Europe and build the missing infrastructure to link the Gulf and Mediterranean regions.

— The Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for the IMEC was signed in September 2023 in New Delhi during the G-20 summit by India, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates (UAE), France, Germany, Italy, the US and the EU.

— According to the EU, The European Union is a group of 27 countries in Europe. These countries came together to make things better, easier and safer for people. They agreed to work together and help each other.

— India established diplomatic relations with the European Economic Community — the first pillar of the future European Union — back in 1962. The Joint Political Statement signed in 1993 and the Cooperation Agreement of 1994 paved the way for the strengthening of ties between India and Europe.

Other Important Articles Covering the same topic:

📍India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor: Significance and Prospects for India

📍10 meetings, 5 months: What to look out for in run-up to deal, summit 

Previous year UPSC Prelims Question Covering similar theme:

(1) ‘European Stability Mechanism’, sometimes seen in the news, is an (UPSC CSE 2016)

(a) agency created by EU to deal with the impact of millions of refugees arriving from Middle East

(b) agency of EU that provides financial assistance to eurozone countries

(c) agency of EU to deal with all the bilateral and multilateral agreements on trade

(d) agency of EU to deal with the conflicts arising among the member countries

Previous year UPSC Mains Question Covering similar theme:

📍The expansion and strengthening of NATO and a stronger US-Europe strategic partnership works well for India. What is your opinion about this statement? Give reasons and examples to support your answer. ( UPSC CSE 2023)

First time, India’s CO2 emissions from power sector dip in Jan-June

Syllabus:

Preliminary Examination: Current events of national and international importance

Mains Examination: General Studies-III: Infrastructure: Energy, Ports, Roads, Airports, Railways etc

What’s the ongoing story: Breaking a long-term trend, carbon dioxide emissions from India’s electricity sector in the first half of this year have showed a marginal decline compared to the same period last year, a new analysis has revealed.

Key Points to Ponder:

— Which sector is the largest contributor to India’s Greenhouse gas emissions?

— What is the contribution of various sources in India’s energy mix?

— What is the significance of renewable energy in reducing greenhouse gas emissions?

— How few heatwave periods led to the drop in power sector emissions?

— What is the target of India in non-fossil electricity capacity?

— What are the various schemes launched by the government to promote renewable energy?

Key Takeaways:

— This is the first time that emissions from any sector in India over half-a-year period have dropped, outside of the Covid years. The relatively milder summer temperatures and good monsoon rainfall were an important contributory factor.

— The analysis by Centre for Research on Energy and Clean Air (CREA) for Carbon Brief, a UK-based climate-focussed publication, shows that the CO2 emissions from India’s electricity sector between January and June this year dropped 1 per cent compared to the first half of 2024.

— This is significant because the electricity sector is the largest contributor to India’s greenhouse gas emissions, accounting for almost 40 per cent of the country’s annual emissions. — India’s emissions, the third largest in the world, have been rising steadily over the years, in sync with its expanding economy, and this is the first time that a drop has been witnessed even at the sectoral level.

— The analysis suggests that emissions from India’s electricity sector may peak by 2030, much earlier than previously expected. New capacity additions in non-fossil fuel based electricity, like renewables, nuclear and hydro, are likely to outpace the growth in power demand by that time. — This means that India may not need to deploy additional coal-based electricity to meet the increase in electricity demand.

— The growing ability of solar and wind to meet the peak demands in electricity with the help of storage could result in flat-lining coal-powered electricity generation, and the emissions associated with it, the analysis said.

— The 1 per cent drop in power sector emissions in the first half of this year could be attributed to lower electricity demand and faster growth in generation of clean electricity. The drop in electricity demand was mainly because the summer season this year was relatively less hot compared to 2024.

— Relatively lower temperatures and higher rainfall reduced the need for air-conditioning, which accounts for about 10 per cent of India’s electricity demand during the summer months.

— India added 25.1 GW of clean electricity capacity in the first half of this year, about 70 per cent more than it did last year, which itself was a record at that time. This had a direct impact on electricity generation as well.

— India is targeting 500 GW of installed non-fossil electricity capacity by 2030, of which 252 GW has already been achieved. Projects already in the pipeline, if executed before 2030, were enough to take the installed capacity to 482 GW, the analysis said.

Do You Know:

— India became the world’s third-largest producer of electricity from wind and solar energy in 2024, overtaking Germany, to according to a new report published in April, 2025.

— India has also reached a key climate milestone five years ahead of schedule — as of June 30, non-fossil fuel sources account for 50.1 per cent of the country’s installed electricity capacity.

— These sources — which include nuclear, large hydro, and renewables — made up just 30 per cent of installed capacity in 2015 and 38 per cent in 2020, before rising sharply over the last five years, on the back of solar and wind power.

— When the Paris Agreement on climate change was signed in 2015, India had committed to reaching 40 per cent non-fossil fuel capacity by 2030. This target was raised to 50 per cent in 2022.

— As of June, India’s total installed capacity stood at 485 gigawatts (GW). Of this, renewables — including solar, wind, small hydro, and biogas — accounted for 185 GW, according to a press release by the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE).

— Large hydro capacities contributed 49 GW, and nuclear energy added 9 GW, taking the total non-fossil fuel capacity just over the halfway mark. Thermal power, mostly coal- and gas-based, made up the remaining 242 GW, or 49.9 per cent. In 2015, thermal’s share was 70 per cent.

Other Important Articles Covering the same topic:

📍India’s ‘green’ power capacity overtakes thermal: Why it matters, the challenges posed, and what’s next

📍India overtakes Germany to become 3rd-largest generator of wind, solar power: Report

Previous year UPSC Prelims Question Covering similar theme:

(2) ‘Net metering’ is sometimes seen in the news in the context of promoting the (UPSC CSE 2016)

(a) production and use of solar energy by the households/consumers

(b) use of piped natural gas in the kitchens of households

(c) installation of CNG kits in motor­cars

(d) installation of water meters in urban households

 

EXPLAINED

Upgrading Army radars

Syllabus:

Preliminary Examination: Current events of national and international importance

Mains Examination: General Studies-III: Various Security forces and agencies and their mandate; Achievements of Indians in science & technology; indigenization of technology and developing new technology.

What’s the ongoing story: With the procurement of a range of advanced air defence (AD) radars, the Indian Army has begun the process of plugging gaps in its air defence network along the northern and western borders.

Key Points to Ponder:

— What are advanced air defence (AD) radars?

— What are Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs)?

— Know about the radars and its function

— What is the Airborne Warning and Control System (AWACS)?

— How has modern warfare changed?

— What is the Mission Sudarshan Chakra?

— Why is the government planning to make drone operation a key part of a soldier’s training?

Key Takeaways:

— This comes four months after Operation Sindoor, during which hundreds of Pakistani Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) were able to breach Indian airspace.

— The Army has sought to procure up to 45 Low Level Light Weight Radars (Enhanced), up to 48 Air Defence Fire Control Radar-Drone Detectors (ADFCR-DD), and 10 Low Level Light Weight Radars (Improved).

— These AD radars can detect, track, and engage aerial objects with small radar cross-sections (RCS), like the Pakistani drones which infiltrated Indian airspace in May.

— Radar is the acronym for RAdio Detection And Ranging. It is a specialised electronic system that uses radio waves to determine the direction, distance, and velocity of target objects. AD radars are used by the military to search, detect, identify, and help destroy aerial threats.

— In simple terms, a radar comprises two basic components: a transmitter which sends out radio signals, and a receiver which collects any reflected signals from a target.

— Radars were developed in the 1930s and 1940s, primarily for military use. Amid the increasing importance of airpower in warfare, radars became essential defensive (and later offensive) systems for militaries.

— There are primarily two kinds of AD radars: surveillance radars and fire control radars.

— The former constantly surveil the skies to detect aerial objects. These detections are then analysed by an operator (increasingly with the help of computers) to identify the objects spotted. — Surveillance radars are not directly connected to any anti-aircraft weapon system unlike fire control radars, which help surface-to-air guns or missiles target aerial threats.

— Both the Army and the Indian Air Force (IAF) have both surveillance and fire control radars.

— The IAF controls most of the high and medium power radars (HPRs and MPRs) which have ranges of up to several hundred kilometres and can track aerial threats at higher altitudes. These are used to tackle larger threats such as fighter jets, enemy transport aircraft, or Airborne Warning and Control System (AWACS).

— Both the IAF and the Army also have some Low Level Light Weight Radars (LLLRs). These have lower ranges and are meant to track aerial objects, often smaller, flying at lower altitudes.

There is thus a need to increase the number of LLLRs and other fire control radars, which cannot only detect threats with low RCS but also identify friend from foe in a cluttered air space.

— RCS, or radar signature, is a measure of how detectable an object is by radar, usually represented in square metres; larger the RCS, greater the detectability. The RCS is not only the function of the size of an aerial object but also its specific design features: the basic thrust of modern stealth technology is to reduce an aircraft’s RCS.

— The new radars being procured will be capable of scanning the airspace, detecting and tracking targets, and prioritising them based on the threat they pose.

— An enhanced LLLR, for instance, would be able to pick up signals from low-RCS drones, including swarms, and transmit target data to weapon systems up to 10 km away.

— The ADFCR-DD — which are modern fire control radars — will be capable of detecting, identifying, classifying, and controlling weapon systems to target even the smallest surveillance and attack drones, making destruction of such threats far more effective.

— India’s AD infrastructure comprises AD guns and surface-to-air missiles like the Russian S-400s and the indigenous Akash missile system. Despite some breaches, this system performed remarkably during Operation Sindoor, and prevented Pakistan from inflicting any significant damage during its aerial forays into India.

— The Army has the Akashteer system in place…Similarly, the IAF has the Integrated Air Command and Control System (IACCS), which is an automated command and control system…

— At the moment, the defence establishment is focussing its energies in setting up a comprehensive air defence shield as a part of Mission Sudarshan Chakra.

EXPRESS NETWORK: After Op Sindoor, Indian Army to set up 19 drone centres at premier training academies

— The Army is planning to establish drone training centres and hubs at 19 major training establishments across the country, including the Indian Military Academy in Dehradun, the Infantry School in Mhow, the Officers Training Academy in Chennai and Gaya, and the School of Artillery in Deolali.

— The move is intended to integrate drone training facilities into the standard training curriculum for all ranks, in line with the inclusion of drones as a standard weapon system in the defence forces following Operation Sindoor.

— The types of drones to be provided will include over 800 nano, micro, small and medium drones (as per weight categories), 140 first-person view (FPV) drones, and nearly 600 training simulators with compatible equipment.

— Nano drones will be used for practicing basic manoeuvring, motor skills and hand-eye coordination, while micro drones will be used for remote pilot training and basic surveillance.

— Small drones will be deployed for day-and-night surveillance and mission planning, while medium drones will be used for day-and-night intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance, mission planning, and target grid corrections.

— Earlier this year, the Army Training Command (ARTRAC) said that all Indian Army soldiers will be trained adequately in drones by 2027. ARTRAC has already initiated a roadmap to make drone operation a key part of every soldier’s training.

Do You Know:

— The nature of warfare has undergone an irreversible shift. From boots on the ground and dogfights in the air to remote strikes from unmanned platforms and AI-driven decision cycles, war is now a contest of networks, autonomy, and lethality at machine speed. Nations that adapt to this shift will dominate; those that lag will perish in obsolescence.

—  Manoj K Channan writes: In this evolving paradigm, four key assertions emerge. One, artillery (rockets/missiles) will dominate offensive operations. Two, air defence (AD) will become the primary defensive shield.

— Three, sappers will rise in operational relevance beyond mobility and countermobility. And four, the infantry and the armoured corps will execute decisive manoeuvres, shaped by strategic fires and autonomous systems.

— Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAV) are military aircraft that is guided autonomously, by remote control, or both and that carries sensors, target designators, offensive ordnance, or electronic transmitters designed to interfere with or destroy enemy targets.

Other Important Articles Covering the same topic:

📍Warfare is going autonomous — India must catch up

📍Preparing for a future war

Previous year UPSC Prelims Question Covering similar theme:

(3) Consider the following activities: (UPSC CSE 2024)

1 Identification of narcotics on passengers at airports or in aircraft

2. Monitoring of precipitation

3. Tracking the migration of animals

In how many of the above activities can the radars be used?

(a) Only one

(b) Only two

(c) All three

(d) None

Previous year UPSC Mains Question Covering similar theme:

📍The use of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) by our adversaries across the borders. to ferry arms / ammunitions, drugs, etc., is a serious threat to the internal security. Comment on the measures being taken to tackle this threat. (UPSC CSE 2023)

Tracing Sarnath: from Buddha’s first sermon to emblem of Indian republic

Syllabus:

Preliminary Examination: Current events of national and international importance.

Mains Examination: General Studies-I: Indian culture will cover the salient aspects of Art Forms, literature and Architecture from ancient to modern times

What’s the ongoing story: Ahead of a UNESCO team’s proposed visit to Sarnath, the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) will install what it is calling a “corrected” plaque that will credit a local ruler, and not the British, for preserving the holy Buddhist site.

Key Points to Ponder:

— What is the significance of Sarnath in Buddhism?

— Where is Sarnath located?

— Where did Buddha deliver his first sermon?

— What is the significance of the lion pillar at Sarnath?

— Buddhism was patronised by which rulers?

— What are the four Noble Truths or Ariya-sachchani (Arya Satya)?

Key Takeaways:

— Earlier this year, India officially nominated Sarnath for the UNESCO World Heritage List for the 2025-26 cycle — a move that could end its 27-year wait on the tentative list.

— Sarnath, roughly 10 km to the northeast of Varanasi, is where the Buddha is said to have delivered his first sermon in c. 528 BCE, and the place at which the Buddhist sangha (community) is said to have formed.

— While ancient Buddhist texts refer to this location as Mrigadava or Rishipatana, and do not provide an exact or even approximate location for it, oral tradition and the actions of Emperor Ashoka (c. 268-232 BCE) have been key to making this association.

— Ashoka famously constructed a lion pillar at Sarnath that today acts as the emblem of the Republic of India.

— There is historical consensus about the fact that Sarnath was sacked and burned sometime in the 12th century… Who was responsible for this destruction, however, remains a matter of debate.

— Sarnath was among the earliest sites explored by amateur British archaeologists and indologists, possibly due to its proximity to Varanasi, which had a strong Company presence.

— The credit for its “rediscovery”, however, goes to workers of Jagat Singh, the diwan of Raja Chait Singh of Benares, who were digging at the site to retrieve brick and stone for a new marketplace being built in his name.

— In 1799, these findings were reported by Jonathan Dunancan, a prominent indologist who had founded the Sanskrit College at Varanasi in 1791. Duncan’s descriptions were what spurred subsequent British excavations at the site, most notably by Cunningham in 1835-36.

— The most significant work on Sarnath, however, was carried out by archaeologist Friedrich Oertel in 1904-05.

— Today, Sarnath is one of the four holiest Buddhist sites of pilgrimage (along with Lumbini, the birthplace of the Buddha; Bodh Gaya, where the Buddha attained enlightenment; and Kushinagara, where he left his mortal body).

Do You Know:

— The Buddha delivered his first sermon at a deer park near Banaras (Varanasi) to five of his disciples. This is referred to as dhammachakka-pavattana (the turning of the wheel of dhamma). — In his sermon, the Buddha put forward a transformative path – a way of life that helps individuals to escape the cycle of birth, death and rebirth.

— At the core of his teachings are the four Noble Truths or Ariya-sachchani (Arya Satya) which are –

(i) The world is full of suffering (dukkha)

(ii) Suffering arises from desire (samudaya)

(iii) Suffering can be overcome (nirodha)

(iv) There is a path to achieve this – the Eight-fold Path or Atthanga-magga (Ashtanga Marga).

— The Eight-fold Path consists of right action, right speech, right livelihood, right view, right effort, right intention, and right concentration and mindfulness.

Other Important Articles Covering the same topic:

📍Sarnath on UNESCO radar, ASI prepares to install ‘corrected’ plaque to show local role

📍How Buddhism shows the path to nirvana

Previous year UPSC Prelims Question Covering similar theme:

(4) With reference to ancient India, consider the following statements: (UPSC CSE 2023)

1. The concept of Stupa is Buddhist in origin.

2. Stupa was generally a repository of relics.

3. Stupa was a votive and commemorative structure in Buddhist tradition.

How many of the statements given above are correct?

(a) Only one

(b) Only two

(c) All three

(d) None

ECONOMY

Govt to push geothermal pilots under new policy

Syllabus:

Preliminary Examination: Current events of national and international importance

Mains Examination: General Studies-III: Government policies and interventions for development in various sectors and issues arising out of their design and implementation

What’s the ongoing story: India’s new national policy on geothermal energy seeks to build on interest from research firms in the United States, Iceland, and Norway to test its commercial viability in the country, Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) Secretary Santosh Kumar Sarangi said on Wednesday.

Key Points to Ponder:

— What is geothermal energy?

— What are the key highlights of the National Policy on Geothermal Energy (2025)?

— What is the role of geothermal energy in achieving the 2070 Net Zero Goal?

— Know about the key sites to exploit geothermal energy?

— What is the potential of geothermal energy in India and the world?

— What are the challenges in utilizing geothermal energy?

Key Takeaways:

— Companies from Iceland and Norway are looking at R&D and pilot projects in the Gulf of Cambay, Arunachal Pradesh, and Uttarakhand, he added.

— Geothermal energy taps the earth’s heat from hot water springs on the surface or reservoirs deep underground, using steam to spin turbines and generate electricity. It is a renewable source and can also be harnessed from hot rocks for heating and cooling, greenhouses, and aquaculture.

— The Geological Survey of India (GSI) has mapped 381 hot springs nationwide with surface temperatures between 35°C and 89°C, whose exploration and development the new MNRE policy, released on September 17, aims to support.

— India has an estimated 10.6 gigawatts (GW) of geothermal potential, which could rise with further exploration.

— Key sites lie in the Himalayan Geothermal Province — covering Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh, Ladakh, Jammu and Kashmir, and Arunachal Pradesh — as well as the Cambay Graben in Gujarat, home to several abandoned oil wells, and the Andaman and Nicobar Islands.

— Globally, less than 17 GW of geothermal capacity is harnessed, led by the US, Indonesia, and the Philippines, while countries like Iceland and Norway have pioneered innovative technologies in the sector.

— According to the International Energy Agency (IEA), “China, the US and India have the largest market potential for next-generation geothermal electricity, together accounting for three-quarters of the global total.” The IEA estimates India’s geothermal market potential to grow to 4.2 GW by 2035 and nearly 100 GW by 2045.

— Oil and gas companies are increasingly looking to repurpose abandoned wells for geothermal energy.

— Geothermal energy faces high upfront costs and exploration risks — it takes about Rs 36 crore to develop one megawatt (MW) of capacity.

— The National Policy on Geothermal Energy aims to financially support R&D and pilot projects, along with streamlining efforts across stakeholders, including the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas and state governments. A viability gap funding (VGF) scheme is also being explored.

Previous year UPSC Prelims Question Covering similar theme:

(5) Consider the following statements: (CAPF 2023)

1. Geothermal energy can be used to produce electricity or it can be used directly for industry, agriculture, building and cleaning.

2. Nuclear energy is often cheaper than some other sources of electricity.

3. Thermal power stations burn fossil fuels to create steam to drive the turbines.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

(a) 1 only

(b) 1 and 2 only

(c) 1 and 3 only

(d) 2 and 3 only

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PRELIMS ANSWER KEY

1. (b)   2. (a)    3. (b)     4. (b)     5. (c)

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