Relevance: GS III (Energy & Environment) | Source: PIB

1. What is the Big News?

India is moving away from old, polluting coal power to a cleaner and more reliable system. This shift is vital for India to reach its goal of Net Zero emissions by 2070 (meaning we balance the carbon we produce with the carbon we remove from the air).

• Power for All: Electricity is now available for almost 23 hours a day in both villages and cities.
• Goal: By 2026, the government aims to produce even more power to keep up with India’s fast-growing needs.

2. The Renewable Revolution (Solar & Wind)

India is now a world leader in clean energy, ranking 4th globally in total capacity.

• Major Milestone: Over 50% of our power capacity now comes from non-fossil fuel sources like the sun, wind, and water.
• Solar Boom: Solar power has jumped from just 3 GW in 2014 to a massive 140 GW today.
• PM Surya Ghar: This scheme has turned over 23 lakh homes into “mini-power plants” by helping them install rooftop solar panels.

3. Green Hydrogen: The “Future Fuel”

• The Concept: Green Hydrogen is made by splitting water ($H_2O$) into hydrogen and oxygen using clean electricity. Since no coal or gas is used, it is 100% clean.
• National Mission: India aims to produce 5 million tonnes of this fuel by 2030. This will create 6 lakh “green jobs” and reduce our need to buy expensive oil from other countries.

4. Nuclear Energy: The Steady Partner

While solar and wind are great, they don’t work at night or when it’s not windy. Nuclear energy provides steady “Baseload” power (24/7 supply).

• Small Modular Reactors (SMRs): India is now building smaller, cheaper, and safer reactors that are easier to set up than giant traditional plants.
• New Law: The SHANTI Act, 2025 was passed to modernize our nuclear rules and speed up the building of these plants.

5. Saving Energy: Every Unit Counts

• LED Revolution: Through the UJALA scheme, over 36 crore LED bulbs have been sold. This has saved huge amounts of electricity and reduced carbon emissions.
• Smart Meters: Over 5 crore smart meters now help people track their exact power use, stopping waste and making billing honest.

With reference to India’s energy sector and the National Green Hydrogen Mission, consider the following statements:

1. Green Hydrogen is produced by splitting water molecules using renewable energy sources.
2. India currently generates more than 50% of its total installed electricity capacity from non-fossil fuel sources.
3. The SHANTI Act, 2025, is a new law aimed at promoting the use of coal-based thermal power in India.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

(a) 1 and 2 only

(b) 2 and 3 only

(c) 1 and 3 only

(d) 1, 2 and 3

Correct Answer: (a)