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Type: Explained

These Newscards correspond to the explained section of various newspapers. They become immensely important for both prelims and mains and special attention needs to be paid to them

  • Crafted in Indian labs, NexCAR19 takes India to next level in Cancer Care

    Why in the News? 

    • President Droupadi Murmu launched India’s first indigenously-developed CAR T-cell therapy, hailing it as a major breakthrough against cancer.
    • This therapy was developed by the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Bombay and the Tata Memorial Centre, and it is known as ‘NexCAR19 CAR T-cell therapy’.

    BACK2BASICS:

    What is CAR T cell thearpy? 

    CAR T-cell therapy is a type of immunotherapy that involves modifying a patient’s T cells, a type of white blood cell that plays a crucial role in the immune system, to recognize and attack cancer cells. This therapy is designed to target specific proteins found on the surface of cancer cells, such as CD19, which is commonly found on B cells.

    How are CAR-T cells made?

    Significance of CAR T Thearpy:

    • Promising results:  This therapy has shown promising results in treating some types of blood cancers, including certain kinds of lymphoma, pediatric leukemia, and adult leukemia.  It has shown with approximately 70% of patients responding to the treatment.
    • Less time for treatment: CAR T-cell therapies are generally a single infusion with less than 2 weeks of inpatient care, while stem cell transplants and chemotherapy treatment regimens can take months to complete

    Limitiations of CAR-T Therapy:

    • Risks of CAR-T Therapy: The efficacy of CAR-T therapy varies from person to person, and it is too early to declare it a complete cure. While it has shown remarkable progress in challenging cases, its effectiveness is not universal.
    • High Cost Therapy: NexCAR19 is priced at a fraction of its US counterpart, it remains relatively high for many Indians, ranging from ₹40 to 45 lakh.
    • It’s Side Effects includes:
      • Cytokine Release Syndrome (CRS): CRS is the most common side effect of CAR-T therapy, triggering an ‘Inflammatory Response’ that leads to immune system hyperactivity.
      • Neurotoxicity: Although not observed in early-stage clinical trials, neurotoxicity is a common side effect of CAR-T therapy that can manifest as confusion, seizures, or difficulty speaking or walking.
      • Infections and Blood Cell Counts: Patients undergoing CAR-T therapy may experience infections and low blood cell counts as anticipated side effects.

    Conclusion: India’s is moving towards heralding a breakthrough in Cancer Care Therapy. Despite cost challenges, Government efforts are aimed to enhance accessibility and better outputs in Healthcare Sector.

  • Is Transparency lacking in Candidate Disclosure?

    Why in the news? 

    The Supreme Court held that candidates need not to disclose every piece of Information and Possession in their Election Affidavit unless it is Substantial in Nature.

    What are the Legal Provisions?

    • Nomination paper with Affidavit: Section 33 of the Representation of the People Act, 1951 (RP Act) read with rule 4A of election rules, requires every contesting candidate to file their nomination paper for elections along with an Affidavit in a ‘prescribed format’.
    • Association of Democratic Reforms (ADR) Vs Union of India (2002): The Supreme Court held that voters have the right to know about the criminal antecedents, income and asset details of the candidate and his/her dependants and educational qualification of contesting candidates.
      • This judgement resulted in Section 33A being added to the RP Act that requires details of criminal antecedents to be part of the election affidavit.
    • Punishable Offence: Section 125A of the RP Act further provides that failure to furnish required information, giving false information or concealing any information in the nomination paper or affidavit shall be punishable with imprisonment up to six months or fine or both.

    Present Dilemma of Accountability:

    • Candidates with Criminal Charges: The significant issue of candidates with serious criminal charges contesting elections raises questions about the integrity and suitability of such candidates for public office.
      • According to a report by ADR, 19% of candidates in the 2019 Lok Sabha election faced charges of rape, murder or kidnapping.
    • Circumvention of Disclosure Requirements: Some candidates attempted to circumvent disclosure requirements by leaving certain columns blank and filing incomplete affidavits, indicating loopholes in the electoral process.

    Recommendations by Election Commission and Law Commission in its 244th report:

    • A conviction for filing a false affidavit should attract a punishment of a minimum of 2 years imprisonment and be a ground for disqualification.
    • The Trials in such cases must be conducted on a day-to-day basis.
    • Persons charged by a competent court with offences punishable by imprisonment of at least 5 years should be debarred from contesting in the elections provided the case is filed at least 6 months before the election in question.

    Supreme Court’s Judgement to resolve this issues: 

    • In Public Interest Foundation Vs Union of India (2018) directed candidates as well as political parties to issue a declaration about criminal antecedents, at least three times before the election, in a newspaper in the locality and electronic media.

    Way Forward:

    • Debarring from contesting elections : Debarring chargesheeted candidates from contesting elections is likely to be misused by various ruling parties.
    • Increasing Punishment for False Affidavits: Increasing punishment for filing false affidavits and making it a ground for disqualification need to be implemented.
    • Strict Implementation of SC order:The Supreme Court’s order to provide wide publicity of criminal records should also be strictly implemented.

    Conclusion: Addressing challenges in candidate disclosure, enhancing electoral integrity can be achieved through measures such as imposing stricter penalties for false affidavits, enforcing disclosure laws rigorously, and ensuring widespread dissemination of candidates’ criminal records.

  • On Unemployment in Indian States

    Why in the news? 

    A recent report by the International Labour Organization (ILO) and the Institute for Human Development (IHD) revealed that two out of every three unemployed individuals were young graduates.

    Unemployment across Indian States: 

    • Highest Unemployment Rate: At almost 10%, Goa’s unemployment rate is more than three times the national average of 3.17%.
      • Four of the top five states with high unemployment rates (Goa, Kerala, Haryana, and Punjab) are comparatively richer states.
    • Lower Unemployment Rates: Maharashtra and Gujarat, which are rich states in western India, experience unemployment rates far less than the national average.
    • Unemployment in Northern and Southern states: All northern states (Jammu and Kashmir, Punjab, Haryana, Uttarakhand, and Himachal Pradesh) and most southern states have unemployment rates higher than the national average, except Karnataka.
    • Unemployment below the National Average: Out of the 27 states considered, 12 states have unemployment rates less than the national average.
    • Lower unemployment rates in poorer states: Except for Maharashtra and Gujarat, most states with unemployment rates lower than the national average also have per capita incomes lesser than the national average.

    What is the Relationship between Urbanisation and Unemployment? (ILO observations)

    • Relationship between Self-employment and Unemployment: The trend line shows a downward slope, indicating a negative relationship between self-employment and unemployment.
    • Informal self-employment mainly in Agriculture and Rural Economy: A significant portion of informal self-employment is in agriculture and the rural sector.

    • Relationship between Labor Force and Unemployment: Figure 3 illustrates a positive relationship between the urban share of the labor force and the unemployment rate. Highly urbanized states tend to have higher unemployment rates (Positive relationship).
    • High Unemployment and Urbanized states: States like Goa and Kerala, which are highly urbanized, experience high unemployment rates. This is attributed to the limited scope for informal jobs in urban settings compared to rural agriculture, which acts as a reserve for absorbing surplus labor.
    • Limited Informal Sectors: Although informal sectors exist and thrive in urban settings, they have limited capacity to absorb job-seekers compared to rural agriculture.
    • Exceptions states: Gujarat and Maharashtra, despite being highly urbanized, have lower unemployment rates compared to states like Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh.

    Nexus between Education and Employment:

    • Highly educated labor force and unemployment: Kerala, with a highly educated labor force (30% of graduates), faces high unemployment.
      • In contrast, Gujarat and Maharashtra have lower proportions of graduates in their labor force (14% and 20% respectively) and experience lower unemployment rates despite being richer and urbanized.
    • High unemployment among graduates: Graduates may lack the skills required for the growing modern sector, highlighting the need for improved teaching infrastructure and standards.
      • Graduates aspire to high-wage jobs that match their skills, leading to unemployment if the modern sector doesn’t expand enough to absorb them.

    Conclusion: Addressing youth unemployment necessitates improving education quality to match job market demands, fostering skill development for the modern sector, promoting entrepreneurship, and enhancing rural employment opportunities. Policy interventions should target these areas for inclusive growth and employment generation.

  • The advent of a holistic approach to ‘one health’

    Why in the news? 

    In the past, we have seen that there is interdependence between humans, animals, and the environment has been made increasingly evident with the emergence of pandemics such as COVID-19.

    • It is not just humans who are affected by pandemics but also livestock — an example being the outbreak of lumpy skin disease that has spread across countries.

    Why an integrated idea like the ‘One Health’ Mission is needed?

    One Health is an interdisciplinary approach that recognizes the interconnectedness of human health, animal health, and environmental health. It emphasizes collaboration across various sectors, including medicine, veterinary science, ecology, and public health, to address health challenges comprehensively.

    Key features of National One Health Mission:

    • Intersectoral Collaboration: The mission aims to coordinate, support, and integrate all existing One Health initiatives in the country, including the Ministries of Health and Family Welfare, Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying, Environment, and Science and Technology
    • Integrated Disease Surveillance: The mission implements integrated disease surveillance within and across human, animal, and environmental sectors to address communicable diseases, including zoonotic diseases, and improve overall pandemic preparedness and integrated disease control.
    • Consolidation of data: The mission creates an integrated, science-based environment where researchers from various disciplines can use laboratories as necessary and generate requisite inputs for One Health Science, including databases and models with a consolidated approach of ecologists, field biologists, epidemiologists, and other scientists.

     Challenges in National One Health Mission

    • Limited Database: There have been limited efforts to develop databases and models with a consolidated approach of ecologists, field biologists, epidemiologists, and other scientists to understand and respond to the drivers that threaten health and optimize the effectiveness of public health systems in achieving these goals within each sector.
    • Lack of Awareness and Understanding: The lack of awareness and understanding of the One Health concept among stakeholders hinders collaborative efforts required to address complex public health issues
    • Funding Constraints: Funding constraints are a significant barrier to implementing One Health interventions, especially in low- and middle-income countries that may need more resources to invest in One Health initiatives

    Conclusion: To address challenges in the National One Health Mission, efforts must focus on enhancing data collection, raising awareness among the stakeholders, and securing adequate funding. These measures are essential for effective implementation and holistic health management.

  • Corruption has risen over the past five years, say 55% of respondents

    Why in the news? 

    In the run-up to elections, political parties make allegations of corruption against their rivals to reach out to voters and influence voting patterns. So, let’s see about the corruption trend in India.

    What is Corruption? 

    Corruption refers to dishonest or unethical conduct by individuals or institutions, often involving the misuse of entrusted power or resources for personal gain. It can take various forms, including bribery, embezzlement, fraud, nepotism, cronyism, and favoritism. Corruption undermines the principles of fairness, integrity, and accountability in both public and private sectors.

    Corruption in India (Pre-poll survey of 2024 compared with 2019 Survey):

    • Increase in Corruption: According to a pre-poll survey, more than half (55%) of respondents believe that corruption has increased in the past five years.
      • The proportion of respondents believing that corruption has decreased has declined significantly, from 37% in 2019 to 19% in 2024.
    • Causes for Corruption in India: A majority of respondents (56%) hold both Union and State governments responsible for the increase in corruption, with a higher proportion blaming the Union government specifically.
    • Across Spatial Consistency: Regardless of whether respondents live in villages, towns, or cities, the perception of increased corruption is widespread.
    • Opinion of Respondents: Both rich and poor respondents largely agree that corruption has increased, though there is a slight increase in the perception of decreased corruption among richer respondents.

    What does the 2nd Administrative Reforms Commission (ARC) report say?

    • Lack of Transparency: The opacity of government processes and decision-making provides opportunities for corruption.
    • Regulatory Environment: Cumbersome and complex regulations create opportunities for rent-seeking behavior by officials and bureaucrats.
    • Political Interference: Politicization of administrative processes and appointments leads to patronage networks and favoritism, fostering corruption.
    • Lack of Whistleblower Protection: The absence of robust mechanisms to protect whistleblowers discourages individuals from reporting corruption. Fear of retaliation and inadequate legal safeguards inhibit the exposure of corrupt practices.
    • Weak Enforcement Mechanisms: Inadequate enforcement of laws and regulations allows corrupt practices to thrive.

    Conclusion: To combat rising corruption in India, comprehensive measures including enhancing transparency, simplifying regulations, strengthening enforcement, depoliticizing administration, and implementing robust whistleblower protection are imperative for fostering integrity and accountability in governance.

     

  • Understanding perspectives: Farmers’ Protests raise divisive opinions

    Why in the news? 

    A recent survey conducted by CSDS-Lokniti aimed to gather opinions regarding the ongoing farmer protests.

    Opinion about the Farmer Protest:

    The major key demands of Farmers in India include:

    • On Minimum Support Price (MSP): Farmers demand a legal guarantee for MSP for crops, which is a crucial lifeline for farmers facing market uncertainties.
    • On Electricity Act 2020: Farmers are demanding the repeal of the Electricity Act 2020, which they believe will negatively impact their income.
    • On Compensation: Farmers are demanding compensation for farmers who died during the previous agitation in Lakhimpur Kheri.
    • Withdrawal of Cases: Farmers are demanding the withdrawal of cases registered against farmers during the 2020-21 agitation.

    Government Initiatives: 

    • Negotiations: The government has taken several steps to address the farmer agitation, including negotiations with protesting farmers, proposing the formation of a committee to provide statutory backing to the Minimum Support Price (MSP), and engaging in talks with farmer representatives.
    • Demands: Despite promises made to farmers in 2021, the government has not fully responded to their demands, leading to continued tensions and protests. The government’s reaction to the protest still appears to be focused on maintaining law and order rather than proactively addressing the underlying issues raised by the farmers

    Conclusion: The CSDS-Lokniti 2024 pre-poll survey highlights divisive opinions on farmer protests, citing demands for an MSP guarantee, repeal of the Electricity Act, and compensation for fatalities. Despite negotiations, unresolved grievances persist, indicating a need for proactive governmental action and dialogue

  • What’s behind the latest US-China trade fight?

    Why in the news? 

    China’s burgeoning production of electric cars and other green technologies has become a flashpoint in a new US-China trade fight, highlighted by US Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen during her five-day visit to China.

    Context:  

    • According to the Paris-based International Energy Agency, China has built a substantial car industry that accounts for 60% of global electric vehicle sales. Similar dynamics exist in other industries, such as solar panels, batteries, and steel.
    • China is now the world’s largest producer of solar cells.
    • Now the main concern is that the Chinese are building up a lot of capacity in many industries across the board, including these new technology sectors, and if domestic demand does not pick up, they are going to be looking for markets outside the country.

    US-China Trade Dispute:

    • The US and China have been slugging it out since Trump slapped heavy tariffs on imported steel and aluminum items from China in March last year, and China responded by imposing tit-for-tat tariffs on billions of dollars worth of American imports.
    • The IMF noted that the US-China trade tension was one factor that contributed to a “significantly weakened global expansion” late last year, as it cut its global growth forecast for 2019.

    US-China Trade and Investment Facts:

    • US GOODS & SERVICES trade with China totalled an estimated $737.1 billion in 2018. Exports: $179.3 billion; imports: $557.9 billion; deficit: $378.6 billion
    • CHINA IS CURRENTLY the US’s largest goods trading partner with $659.8 billion in total (two-way) goods trade in 2018. Exports: $120.3 billion; imports: $539.5 billion; US goods trade deficit: $419.2 billion
    • US FDI IN CHINA (stock) was $107.6 billion in 2017, a 10.6% increase from 2016. US direct investment in China is led by manufacturing, wholesale trade, finance and insurance
    • CHINA FDI IN THE US (stock) was $39.5 billion in 2017, down 2.3% from 2016. China’s direct investment in the US is led by manufacturing, real estate, depository institutions

    How does China’s Auto Industry pose an external threat to Indian Market?

    • Market Dominance: China is dominating the local market and threatening to dominate India’s traditional export markets, which could cause concern for the ‘Make in India‘ program.
    • Quality Concerns: The quality of auto parts coming from China is a major concern for the safety of vehicles in India. With increasing stakes by Chinese vendors, the situation is expected to become more challenging.
    • Cost Advantage: Chinese automakers have a cost advantage over North American and European brands, allowing them to undercut rivals. This cost advantage is due to Chinese manufacturers’ ability to produce EVs more efficiently and profitably than their Western counterparts.
    • Security concerns: Chinese automakers flooding foreign markets with their autos and the potential for these vehicles to be used for espionage, data collection, or sabotage.

    How India can benefit from the ongoing US-China trade war?

    • Export Opportunities: India can tap export opportunities in both the US and China, particularly in areas such as garments, agriculture, automobile, machinery, apparel, and readymade garments
    • Export Growth: India’s exports to the US increased by 11.2% in 2018, and to China by 31.4% in the same year, indicating the potential for further growth
    • Product Opportunities: India can boost exports of around 350 products to the US and China, including items like copper ores, rubber, paper/paperboard, industrial valves, vulcanised rubber, carbon or graphite electrodes, and natural honey
    • Trade Deficit Reduction: Increasing exports would help India narrow the widening trade deficit with China, which stood at USD 50.12 billion during April-February 2018-19

    Conclusion: The US-China trade fight intensifies over China’s dominance in green technology sectors like electric vehicles. India stands to benefit from increased exports to both nations, potentially narrowing its trade deficit with China while tapping into new markets.

  • Karnataka Drought Relief: Let there not be a (Centre-state) contest, states coming to court, says SC

    Why in the News?

    Recently, the SC called on the Centre and state governments to refrain from a “contest”, and noted that various state governments were approaching the court to seek relief against the Centre in matters related to the disbursal of funds.

    • The bench was hearing the Karnataka government’s plea seeking a direction to the Centre to release financial assistance from the National Disaster Response Fund (NDRF) for drought management.

    Background:

    • The Karnataka state submitted to the Central government, that 223 of the 236 talukas or sub-districts were declared drought-hit. (48 lakh hectares of land under cultivation)
    • An Inter-Ministerial Central Team (IMCT) also visited the state to inspect the damage in October 2023. During the monsoon season last year, the rainfall deficit was 56% in June (the third highest in 122 years) and 73% in August (the highest in 122 years).

    Supreme Court’s role in this case:

    • Ensuring Accountability and Setting Legal Precedence: The plea before the SC involves significant questions concerning the interpretation of the Constitution, particularly regarding Article 293. It questions whether this article grants states a legally enforceable right to borrow from the Union government or other sources.
      • Additionally, the court is considering the extent to which the Union government can regulate such borrowing rights if they exist.
    • Interpreting the Constitution: There should be at least five judges to hear cases that involve ” a substantial question of law as to the interpretation” of the Constitution. (Article 145(3))
    • Promoting Fair resource allocation in federal structure: It also raises “various questions of significant importance impacting the federal structure of governance as embedded in our Constitution.

    About the National Disaster Response Fund (NDRF):

    • It is a fund administered by the Central Government to cover costs associated with emergency response, relief, and rehabilitation in the face of potential disaster situations or actual disasters.
    • The NDRF is formed to bolster the finances of the State Disaster Response Funds (SDRF) during significant disasters, ensuring support if sufficient funds are lacking in the SDRF.
    • Under the Disaster Management Act 2005, there is no definition of disasters. It can include any event arising from natural or man-made causes that can severely disrupt life for people, going beyond their coping capacity.
    • NDRF is mentioned in Section 46 of the Disaster Management Act, 2005.

    Provisions:

    • NDRF guidelines state that natural calamities of cyclones, drought, earthquake, fire, flood, tsunami, hailstorms, landslides, avalanches, cloud bursts, pest attacks, and cold waves and frost are considered to be severe by the Government of India (GoI) and requiring expenditures by a state government over the balances available in its own SDRF will qualify for immediate relief assistance from NDRF.
    • The NDRF also covers man-made disasters such as terrorist attacks, chemical or biological disasters, or nuclear disasters as notified by the Central Government.
    • States have the State Disaster Relief Funds, where the Centre contributes 75% of the funds (and 90% for Himalayan and northeastern states) and states contribute the remainder.

    Conclusion:

    The Supreme Court, addressing Karnataka’s drought relief plea, emphasizes cooperation over conflict between the Centre and states, while also examining constitutional and federal structure implications, amid discussion on National Disaster Response Fund (NDRF) utilization.

  • Health Sector can’t ignore Telemedicine’s Green Gains, study shows

    Why in the news? 

    Recently a study by researchers at the L.V. Prasad Eye Institute (LVPEI), Hyderabad, has found that around 70-80% of people who visit an Eye Hospital can benefit from teleconsultations because their problems aren’t serious enough to require attention at a hospital.

    Key points as report:

    • Telemedicine in High-Income Countries: Studies in high-income countries have shown that telemedicine is both patient- and environment-friendly for delivering healthcare services.
    • Carbon Emissions from the Healthcare Sector: According to the International Comparison of Healthcare Carbon Footprints analysis, India’s healthcare sector emitted 74 million tonnes of carbon dioxide in 2014, around 3% of India’s total emissions of the gas that year.
    • Carbon Neutrality in Healthcare: The healthcare sector should aim for carbon neutrality to mitigate its environmental impact. Teleophthalmology is cited as an efficient and effective tool to help achieve this goal, as demonstrated by the lead author’s remarks.

    The teleophthalmology process:

    What are Telemedicine’s Green Gains?

    • Reduced Carbon Footprint: Teleophthalmology significantly reduces the need for patients, especially those from rural areas, to travel long distances to access healthcare services. This leads to a substantial reduction in carbon dioxide emissions, contributing to environmental sustainability.
    • Economic Gains: Teleophthalmology results in significant cost savings for both patients and healthcare systems. Patients save money on travel expenses
    • Easy Accessibility: Teleophthalmology improves access to eye care services, especially for individuals living in remote or rural areas where access to healthcare facilities is limited. It allows patients to receive timely consultations without the need for extensive travel.
    • Targeted Care Gains: Teleophthalmology is particularly beneficial for patients with minor eye problems like mild refractive errors or regular preventive eye check-ups. It enables healthcare providers to target specific demographics and deliver personalized care more effectively.

    Conclusion: The recent study highlights teleophthalmology’s potential in reducing carbon emissions and improving accessibility to eye care, emphasizing its role in achieving carbon neutrality and delivering cost-effective, targeted healthcare services, particularly for minor eye issues.

  • The ‘import restrictions’ on solar PV cells | Explained

    Context:

    The Finance Minister proposed the ₹19,500 crore PLI scheme in the Union Budget of 2022-23. 

    • This was to scale domestic manufacturing of the entire solar supply chain — from polysilicon to solar modules.
    • The government also introduced a steep 40% customs duty on PV modules and 25% on PV cells.

    BACK2BASICS

    What is the ALMM list?  

    • The Approved List of Models and Manufacturers (ALMM) is a list of models and manufacturers of solar photovoltaic (PV) modules approved by the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) in India.
    • Objective: The ALMM is used to ensure the quality of solar panels and the manufacturer’s reliability for government projects, government-assisted projects, projects under government schemes and programs, and open access and net-metering projects.
    • It is being re-implemented to boost domestic solar manufacturing against China’s dominance in the supply value chain of solar PV.

    Does India rely on Solar PV imports?

    • China’s Dominance in Imports: China is the leading supplier of solar cells and modules to India, accounting for a significant portion of India’s imports. As of January 2023-24, China accounted for 53% of India’s solar cell imports and 63% of solar PV module imports.
    • Manufacturing Capacity Disparity: China holds a dominant position in the manufacturing capacity for various components of solar panels, including polysilicon, wafers, cells, and modules. Rating agency ICRA estimates that China commands over 80% of the manufacturing capacity in these areas.

    Government Initiatives:

    • Notification of ALMM Order: The government initiated efforts to address import dependency in the solar sector by notifying the Approved List of Models and Manufacturers (ALMM) order in January 2019.
    • Introduction of PLI Scheme: The Finance Ministry proposed the Production Linked Incentive (PLI) scheme worth ₹19,500 crore in the Union Budget of 2022-23. This scheme was designed to incentivize domestic manufacturing across the entire solar supply chain, ranging from polysilicon to solar modules.
    • Imposition of Customs Duties on PV Modules and Cells: To further incentivize domestic manufacturing and curb imports, the government introduced steep customs duties on photovoltaic (PV) modules and cells. Initially, a 40% customs duty was imposed on PV modules, and a 25% duty was imposed on PV cells.

    Why is China a leading exporter?

    • Cost-Competitive Manufacturing: China is recognized as the most cost-competitive location for manufacturing all components of the solar PV supply chain.
    • Low Cost of Power: The lower cost of power supplied to the solar PV industry significantly contributes to China’s competitiveness.
    • Growing Domestic Demand: The significant and rapidly growing domestic demand for solar PV products in China has played a crucial role in driving economies of scale.
    • Economies of Scale: China’s large-scale production capacity allows manufacturers to benefit from economies of scale.
    • Continuous Innovation: Chinese government support and the competitive market environment have fostered continuous innovation throughout the solar PV supply chain.

    Future scope for Solar Energy in India:

    • Ambitious Targets:  The target of achieving 500 GW of installed capacity from non-fossil fuels by 2030 underscores the significant role solar energy will play in India’s energy mix.
    • Fastest Growth Rate in Electricity Demand: India accounts for the fastest rate of growth in electricity demand among major economies, according to the International Energy Agency (IEA).
    • Abundant Solar Potential: India possesses abundant solar resources, with an estimated solar power potential of 748.99 GW.

    Conclusion: The ALMM list, PLI scheme, and customs duties aim to boost domestic solar manufacturing in India to counter China’s dominance. With ambitious targets, fast-growing electricity demand, and abundant solar potential, solar energy holds significant promise for India’s energy transition.

    Mains question for practice 

    Q Discuss the initiatives undertaken by the Indian government to promote domestic manufacturing in the solar sector, particularly in light of China’s dominance.