General Studies 2022 GS Paper III 15 marks 250 words Compulsory Justify

Q12

Do you think India will meet 50 percent of its energy needs from renewable energy by 2030? Justify your answer. How will the shift of subsidies from fossil fuels to renewables help achieve the above objective? Explain. (Answer in 250 words) 15

हिंदी में प्रश्न पढ़ें

क्या आपके विचार में भारत अपनी ऊर्जा आवश्यकता का 50 प्रतिशत भाग, वर्ष 2030 तक नवीकरणीय ऊर्जा से प्राप्त कर लेगा? अपने उत्तर के औचित्य को सिद्ध कीजिए। जीवाश्म ईंधनों से सब्सिडी हटाकर उसे नवीकरणीय ऊर्जा स्रोतों में लगाना उपर्युक्त उद्देश्य पूर्ति में किस प्रकार सहायक होगा? समझाइए। (250 शब्दों में उत्तर दीजिए)

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Directive word: Justify

This question asks you to justify. The directive word signals the depth of analysis expected, the structure of your answer, and the weight of evidence you must bring.

See our UPSC directive words guide for a full breakdown of how to respond to each command word.

How this answer will be evaluated

Approach

The directive 'justify' requires a reasoned argument with evidence for your position on India's 2030 renewable energy target. Structure as: brief stance in introduction; body with feasibility assessment (progress, gaps, challenges) and subsidy reallocation mechanism; conclusion with realistic verdict and policy recommendations.

Key points expected

Current renewable energy capacity (~180 GW as of 2024) vs required trajectory to reach ~500 GW by 2030
Specific constraints: grid integration issues, storage deficit, land acquisition delays, financing gaps
Subsidy shift mechanism: reduced fossil fuel subsidies (LPG, kerosene, diesel) freeing fiscal space for green bonds, PLI schemes, green hydrogen mission
Positive indicators: 175 GW achieved by 2022 (revised target), International Solar Alliance leadership, state-level renewable purchase obligations
Balanced judgment: achievable with accelerated reforms in DISCOMs, battery storage, and cross-border grid connectivity

Evaluation rubric

Dimension	Weight	Max marks	Excellent	Average	Poor
Demand-directive understanding	20%	3	Clear yes/no/mixed stance taken upfront with 'justify' fulfilled through systematic reasoning; addresses both parts (feasibility + subsidy mechanism) in integrated manner	Takes a stance but justification lacks logical progression; treats both parts separately without showing subsidy-target linkage	Descriptive answer without clear position; ignores 'justify' or omits subsidy shift component entirely
Content depth & accuracy	20%	3	Accurate data on installed capacity (solar ~70 GW, wind ~45 GW), cites PM-KUSUM, National Green Hydrogen Mission; explains subsidy shift through phased deregulation of diesel/kerosene and redirected DBT savings	Broadly correct figures but outdated; mentions subsidy shift superficially without specific fossil fuel subsidy reduction examples	Incorrect capacity figures; confuses 50% energy with 50% electricity; treats subsidy shift as simple budget reallocation without sectoral specifics
Structure & flow	20%	3	Compact 250-word structure: 40-word stance intro → 100-word feasibility analysis (achievements vs gaps) → 80-word subsidy mechanism → 30-word forward-looking conclusion; smooth transitions between components	Linear structure but uneven weightage; either over-argues feasibility or over-explains subsidies; conclusion merely summarizes	Disjointed paragraphs; no clear separation between feasibility and subsidy sections; exceeds word limit or severely underwrites
Examples / case-law / data	20%	3	Uses NITI Aayog's 500 GW non-fossil target; cites Rajasthan/Gujarat solar parks; references fossil fuel subsidy bill (~₹2.5 lakh crore annually) and Green Energy Corridors; mentions Ladakh solar project or offshore wind potential	Generic mention of 'solar parks' without specifics; states 'subsidies are high' without quantification; no state-level or scheme-specific examples	No data or examples; or irrelevant examples (nuclear energy, hydro without classification as renewable/non-fossil distinction)
Conclusion & analytical edge	20%	3	Nuanced verdict: target achievable in 'installed capacity' terms but 'energy needs' (including thermal, transport, industry) requires green hydrogen and EV integration; suggests subsidy shift must include carbon pricing for complete transition	Binary conclusion (will meet/will not meet) without qualification; generic call for 'political will and investment'	No conclusion; or purely optimistic/pessimistic without evidence; repeats introduction without analytical progression

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