Consider the following statements : 1. Gujarat has the largest solar park in India. 2. Kerala has a fully solar powered International Airport. 3. Goa has the largest floating solar photovoltaic project in India. Which of the statements given above is/are correct ?
- (a) 1 and 2
- (b) 2 only ✓ UPSC's answer
- (c) 1 and 3
- (d) 3 only
Why the answer is (b)
• Statement 2 is correct: Cochin International Airport in Kerala became the world's first fully solar-powered airport in 2015 and won the UN Champions of the Earth award.
• Statement 1 is wrong: India's largest solar park is Bhadla in Jodhpur district, Rajasthan (over 2,200 MW), ahead of Gujarat's Charanka; Gujarat's Khavda hybrid park is under construction.
• Statement 3 is wrong: the largest floating solar project at the time was NTPC's 100 MW plant at Ramagundam, Telangana (since surpassed by Omkareshwar in Madhya Pradesh); Goa has no such project.
• Hence 2 only, option (b).
Why the other options are wrong
- (a) 1 and 2
- Statement 1 is wrong: Bhadla in Rajasthan is the largest solar park.
- (c) 1 and 3
- Statements 1 and 3 are both wrong.
- (d) 3 only
- Statement 3 is wrong: Goa has no large floating solar project.
Asked in the GS Paper I of the UPSC Civil Services Preliminary Examination 2022, held on 5 June 2022. Question and answer key: Union Public Service Commission. Explanation: UPSC Answer Check.