India has immense potential of solar energy though there are regional variations in its developments. Elaborate. (UPSC 2020)

India has vast solar energy potential because of high insolation, long sunny seasons and large usable land in many regions. Yet its development is uneven, with western and southern states far ahead of eastern, central and north-eastern India. Immense national potential

• India receives about 5,000 trillion kWh of solar energy annually.
• Most regions get 4-7 kWh/m²/day and over 300 sunny days a year.
• Installed solar capacity has risen to 164.59 GW by July 2026.
• Earlier estimates placed potential at 748 GWp, but newer assessments suggest it can be far higher, even above 10,000 GW, if floating solar, agri-PV and urban systems are fully used.

Regional concentration of development

• Rajasthan leads with 42.1 GW, helped by large desert tracts and major parks like Bhadla.
• Gujarat follows with 32.3 GW, supported by projects in the Rann of Kutch.
• Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu and Karnataka also account for large shares.
• Together, a few states hold more than 70% of India’s solar capacity.

Why the gap persists

• Physical factors: Arid western areas have strong, steady sunlight and open land; eastern and north-eastern areas face clouds, rain, forests and hilly terrain.
• Land constraints: Dense population and fertile farmland limit large solar parks in many states.
• Infrastructure issues: Weak DISCOM finances, costly transmission and low grid readiness reduce investment in lagging regions.

Way forward

• Promote rooftop solar through PM-Surya Ghar.
• Expand floating solar, agri-PV and storage-based projects.
• Strengthen inter-state transmission and local manufacturing.

India’s solar future is bright, but balanced growth needs policies that suit regional geography and overcome local economic and grid constraints.