RAS question
What is the revised capacity of the Amba pumped storage project under the NTPC-Maharashtra addendum?
Correct answer: (C) 1500 megawatts.
Under the NTPC-Maharashtra addendum, the Amba pumped storage project has a revised capacity of 1500 megawatts.
Explanation
The addendum to the NTPC-Government of Maharashtra MoU revises the capacity of the Amba pumped storage project from 800 megawatts to 1500 megawatts. The PIB release states that the original MoU covered two pumped storage projects, Amba and Kumbhe, with a combined earlier capacity of 1800 megawatts, and that the revision followed detailed investigations, optimisation studies and technical assessments. This is why 1500 megawatts is the answer for Amba specifically. The same addendum separately revises Kumbhe from 1000 megawatts to 1100 megawatts, so the combined revised capacity becomes 2600 megawatts, but that is not the capacity of Amba alone.
Why the other options are wrong
- (A) 800 megawatts was Amba's earlier capacity under the original MoU, not its capacity after the addendum.
- (B) 1000 megawatts refers to Kumbhe's earlier capacity, so it does not answer the question about Amba's revised capacity.
- (D) 2600 megawatts is the combined revised capacity of Amba and Kumbhe, not the revised capacity of Amba alone.
Concept
This tests current-affairs coverage of energy infrastructure, especially pumped storage projects as part of clean and reliable power planning. RAS often asks such figures because state-centre MoUs and revised project capacities link governance, environment and infrastructure in one fact pattern.