RAS question
The 29 April 2026 NTPC-Maharashtra addendum will scale up which two pumped-storage hydroelectric projects in Maharashtra to higher capacities?
Correct answer: (A) Amba and Kumbhe.
The 29 April 2026 NTPC-Maharashtra addendum scales up the Amba and Kumbhe pumped-storage hydroelectric projects in Maharashtra.
Explanation
The Ministry of Power’s PIB release says NTPC Limited and the Government of Maharashtra signed an addendum on 29 April 2026 to their MoU for pumped-storage projects. The original 03 September 2024 MoU covered two PSPs, Amba and Kumbhe, with a combined capacity of 1,800 MW. After detailed investigations, optimisation studies and technical assessments of topography, reservoir capacity and feasibility, the addendum revised the project parameters. Amba was enhanced from 800 MW to 1,500 MW, while Kumbhe was revised from 1,000 MW to 1,100 MW. Therefore, the addendum concerns Amba and Kumbhe, not the other hydroelectric or river-valley project names listed in the options.
Why the other options are wrong
- (B) Koyna and Bhima are not named in the 29 April 2026 NTPC-Maharashtra addendum; the PIB release identifies Amba and Kumbhe as the two revised PSPs.
- (C) Tehri and Pinakini are outside the pair covered by this Maharashtra addendum, which revised only the Amba and Kumbhe pumped-storage projects.
- (D) Sardar Sarovar and Gandhi Sagar are not part of the cited NTPC-Maharashtra addendum, which formalised revised parameters for Amba and Kumbhe alone.
Concept
This tests current-affairs linkage with Environment and Ecology, especially clean energy infrastructure and pumped-storage hydroelectricity. RAS often asks such questions because state agreements, energy security and renewable-integration projects connect policy facts with geography and environment.