General Studies Paper 3 — Infrastructure, Energy Security | Source: The Indian Express

1. What happened

In May 2026, India recorded its highest ever electricity demand — 270 gigawatts on May 21. The grid struggled to keep up. Power cuts of 40–60 minutes hit cities like Chennai. The government urged people to use electricity wisely.

• Shortage of 188 megawatts during the day — first ever daytime deficit
• Night-time shortage was worse — up to 2.57 gigawatts across four days
• Temperatures touched 40–47°C across northwest and central India
• 23 gigawatts of thermal capacity was under forced shutdown due to technical faults
• Seven states faced shortages — worst hit were Jharkhand (night) and Haryana (day)

2. The real puzzle — 450 GW capacity, yet shortage
3. The “Duck Curve” — the core concept

As India added more solar power, a new problem emerged called the Duck Curve:

The missing link: Battery storage. India currently has only 8 gigawatts of storage. It needs 50 gigawatts by 2030 to store daytime solar and release it at night.

4. India’s energy mix and key facts

Over 50% of installed capacity is now non-fossil — a milestone. But coal still runs the grid because solar and wind are not available round the clock.

5. Value box — key terms and bodies

Central Electricity Authority: Statutory body under the Ministry of Power. Does load forecasting and capacity planning for India’s national grid.

Grid Controller of India (GRID-India): Manages real-time balancing of the national grid through five Regional Load Dispatch Centres. Ensures electricity supply and demand match every second.

Revamped Distribution Sector Scheme: Government scheme worth ₹3.03 lakh crore (2021–26) to modernise distribution networks and reduce transmission losses.

Duck Curve: The sharp mismatch between daytime solar supply and evening demand — the grid dips in the afternoon (solar surplus) then must ramp up steeply at sunset. Named because the graph looks like a duck.

National Solar Mission target: 500 gigawatts of non-fossil energy capacity by 2030. India is currently at approximately 225 gigawatts of non-fossil installed capacity.

Q. Consider the following statements regarding India’s electricity sector as of 2026:

1. Coal accounts for nearly 70% of India’s actual electricity generation, even though it represents less than 50% of installed capacity.
2. The Grid Controller of India manages real-time balancing of the national grid through five Regional Load Dispatch Centres.
3. The “Duck Curve” refers to the steep fall in electricity demand that occurs after sunset when solar generation drops to zero.

(a) 1 and 2 only

(b) 2 and 3 only

(c) 1 and 3 only

(d) 1, 2 and 3

Correct answer

(a) 1 and 2 only