Q1. India’s non-fossil fuel installed capacity reached 266.78 GW in 2025. Which of the following factors contributed most significantly to this growth?
- Expansion of large hydro power projects
- Rapid increase in solar power capacity
- Growth in bioenergy and waste-to-energy projects
- Increase in small hydro power capacity
Correct Option: 2. Rapid increase in solar power capacity
Explanation:
Solar power was the primary driver of India’s renewable energy expansion in 2025. Solar capacity increased from 97.86 GW in 2024 to 135.81 GW in 2025, registering a 38.8% growth, which was the highest among all renewable sources. While wind, hydro, and bioenergy also contributed, their growth rates and absolute additions were comparatively smaller. Hence, solar energy played the most significant role in achieving the record non-fossil capacity.
Q2. Which of the following best explains the strategic importance of pumped storage capacity in energy usability?
- It increases off-grid renewable energy access
- It reduces the cost of solar panel manufacturing
- It improves grid stability and renewable energy integration
- It replaces thermal power plants completely
Correct Option: 3. It improves grid stability and renewable energy integration.
Explanation:
India’s large hydro capacity includes 7,175.6 MW of pumped storage, which plays a crucial role in strengthening grid stability. Pumped storage helps balance supply and demand by storing excess electricity generated from variable sources like solar and wind, and releasing it when needed. This makes it essential for integrating a high share of renewables into the power grid. It does not replace thermal plants entirely nor directly reduce manufacturing costs.
Q3. With reference to lighthouse tourism in India, consider the following statements:
- Seventy-five lighthouses have already been developed as tourism destinations across India.
- The Indian Lighthouse Festival 3.0 was the first edition of the festival held in Visakhapatnam.
- Lighthouse tourism initiatives are aligned with Maritime India Vision 2030 and Amrit Kaal Vision 2047.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
- 1 and 3 only
- 2 and 3 only
- 1 only
- 1, 2 and 3
Correct Option: 1. 1 and 3 only
Explanation:
• Statement 1 is correct:
75 lighthouses have already been developed as tourism destinations across 10 States and Union Territories.
•
Statement 2 is incorrect:
Indian Lighthouse Festival 3.0 is the third edition, not the first. The first edition was held at Fort Aguada, Goa in 2023, and the second at Puri, Odisha in 2024.
•
Statement 3 is correct:
The lighthouse tourism programme is aligned with Maritime India Vision 2030 and Amrit Kaal Vision 2047, as mentioned in the article.
Q4. With reference to the market access provisions for goods under the India–Oman CEPA, consider the following statements:
- India receives 100% duty-free market access in Oman covering more than 98% of Oman’s tariff lines.
- All tariff concessions for Indian exports to Oman are implemented in a phased manner over five to ten years.
- The CEPA significantly improves competitiveness for Indian exports that earlier faced MFN duties of up to 5%.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
- 1 and 3 only
- 1 and 2 only
- 2 and 3 only
- 1, 2 and 3
Correct Option: 1. 1 and 3 only
Explanation:
• Statement 1 is correct:
Under the CEPA, India secures 100% duty-free access in Oman across 98.08% of tariff lines, covering 99.38% of India’s export value, effective from Day One.
•
Statement 2 is incorrect:
The agreement clearly states that all zero-duty concessions apply immediately, not in a phased manner. Phased liberalisation applies only to select processed products and India’s own tariff commitments.
•
Statement 3 is correct:
Indian exports worth around USD 3.64 billion that earlier faced MFN duties of up to 5% gain immediate price competitiveness under CEPA.
Q5. The Somnath Swabhiman Parv in 2026 commemorates which of the following historical milestones?
- 1,000 years since the first attack on Somnath Temple and 50 years since its reopening after Independence
- 1,000 years since the first attack on Somnath Temple and 75 years since its reopening after Independence
- 1,026 years since the temple was built and 75 years since Independence
- Only the reopening of the temple in 1951
Correct Option: 2. 1,000 years since the first attack on Somnath Temple and 75 years since its reopening after Independence
Explanation:
• The first recorded attack on Somnath Temple was by Mahmud of Ghazni in 1026, marking 1,000 years in 2026.
•
The present Somnath Temple was reconstructed and reopened on 11 May 1951, making 2026 the 75th anniversary of its reopening.
•
Option 1 is incorrect because 50 years is outdated; Option 3 is incorrect because the temple’s original construction predates 1026, and the 75-year milestone is specifically from 1951; Option 4 ignores the 1,000-year historical commemoration.