RAS question
India's solar power generation capacity crossed what milestone by January 2026?
Correct answer: (C) 140 GW.
By January 2026, India's installed solar power generation capacity had crossed the 140 GW milestone, reaching about 140.6 GW.
Explanation
The milestone is 140 GW: the Press Information Bureau release says India's installed solar capacity rose from 3 GW in 2014 to 140 GW in January 2026, while the more precise figure is 140.6 GW. This matters because solar is presented as a core part of India's renewable-energy expansion, helping push non-fossil-fuel capacity beyond half of total installed electricity capacity. The milestone also connects to the broader 2025-26 renewable push, with additions crossing 50,000 MW, and to Rajasthan's place as India's renewable-energy leader with more than 31,500 MW installed capacity. So the answer is not a loose trend estimate; it is the stated national solar-capacity threshold for January 2026.
Why the other options are wrong
- (A) 100 GW is too low because India's January 2026 solar capacity was at the 140 GW level.
- (B) 120 GW understates the milestone, since installed solar capacity was 140 GW in January 2026.
- (D) 160 GW overshoots the stated figure; India's January 2026 solar-capacity milestone was not 160 GW.
Concept
This tests renewable-energy capacity milestones under Science and Technology, especially India's clean-energy transition. It recurs in RAS because solar growth and Rajasthan's renewable-energy leadership connect national policy with state-level economic geography.