Mains Practice Questions for the Day
Q. Integrated industrial parks can play an important role in strengthening India’s manufacturing ecosystem. Discuss with reference to the BHAVYA Scheme.
(GS Paper III – Economy, Industrial Growth, Infrastructure, Investment, Manufacturing, Employment and Digital Economy.)
Introduction:
India aims to become a global manufacturing hub and achieve the vision of Viksit Bharat 2047. For this, the country needs modern industrial infrastructure, faster approvals, reliable logistics and sector-specific investment zones. In this context, the Bharat Audyogik Vikas Yojana (BHAVYA), with an outlay of ₹33,660 crore, seeks to develop 100 investment-ready industrial parks across India.
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Role of Integrated Industrial Parks in Manufacturing
Integrated industrial parks provide all basic facilities in one planned location. These include land, power, water, road and rail connectivity, digital clearances, testing facilities, worker housing and social infrastructure.
Such parks help industries by:
- Reducing delays in land acquisition and approvals.
- Providing plug-and-play infrastructure for faster project start.
- Improving logistics efficiency through multimodal connectivity.
- Creating industrial clusters based on local strengths.
- Supporting MSMEs, startups and large industries in the same ecosystem.
- Helping Indian firms integrate with global value chains.
BHAVYA Scheme: Key Features
The BHAVYA Scheme aims to develop modern, world-class industrial parks across States and Union Territories.
Its major features include:
- 100 industrial parks to be developed over six years.
- Competitive selection of State proposals based on land availability, industrial strength, investor interest and sectoral potential.
- Parks of different sizes: 25 acres in hilly/Northeastern/smaller UT regions, 100–500 acres in mid-sized regions and up to 1,000 acres near cities.
- Implementation through NICDC under a Centre-State partnership model.
- Dedicated spaces for startups, deep-tech, R&D and innovation-led enterprises.
- Modern testing facilities in partnership with BIS, Export Inspection Agency and FSSAI.
- Digital monitoring through the BHAVYA Portal.
Significance of BHAVYA
- It can attract domestic and foreign investment.
- It can generate large-scale direct and indirect employment.
- It promotes competitive federalism among States.
- It supports ease of doing business through single-window and digital systems.
- It strengthens sectors such as manufacturing, chemicals, data centres, deep-tech and innovation.
- It can support balanced regional development, especially in Northeastern and hilly regions.
Challenges
- Availability of clear and dispute-free land.
- Timely environmental clearances.
- Coordination between Centre, States and implementing agencies.
- Risk of underutilised industrial parks if investor demand is weak.
- Need for skilled labour, worker housing and social infrastructure.
- Sustainability concerns related to water, energy and waste management.
Way Forward
- Ensure transparent and timely project selection.
- Use the BHAVYA Portal for real-time monitoring.
- Link parks with ports, railways, highways and airports.
- Develop sector-specific parks based on local economic strengths.
- Promote green infrastructure, renewable energy and waste recycling.
- Provide strong support to MSMEs and startups.
- Ensure worker housing, healthcare, skilling centres and social facilities.
Conclusion:
Integrated industrial parks can become engines of India’s manufacturing growth by reducing investment delays, improving infrastructure and creating employment. The BHAVYA Scheme can strengthen India’s industrial ecosystem if implemented with speed, transparency and sustainability. It can help India move towards becoming a globally competitive manufacturing destination and contribute to the goal of Viksit Bharat 2047.
Q. Decentralised solar power is crucial for India’s clean energy transition, but power subsidies have slowed its adoption. Discuss.
(GS Paper III – Energy, Infrastructure, Environment and Climate Change)
Introduction:
India is rapidly expanding renewable energy, with solar power becoming a major part of installed electricity capacity. Schemes such as PM Surya Ghar: Muft Bijli Yojana and PM-KUSUM aim to promote decentralised solar power through rooftop solar systems and solar pumps. However, despite its importance for clean energy transition, adoption has remained uneven due to high upfront costs and existing power subsidies.
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Importance of Decentralised Solar Power
Decentralised solar power means generating electricity close to the place of use, such as households, farms and local institutions.
Its importance lies in the following ways:
- Reduces pressure on land: Large solar parks require huge land areas. Rooftop solar and solar pumps reduce dependence on land-intensive projects.
- Supports energy security: Local generation reduces dependence on long transmission networks and improves energy reliability.
- Reduces grid pressure: Solar generation during daytime helps meet rising electricity demand, especially during summer.
- Benefits farmers: Under PM-KUSUM, farmers can use solar pumps, reduce diesel or electricity bills, and earn income by selling surplus power.
- Promotes green jobs: PM Surya Ghar aims to create skilled manpower for installation, operation and maintenance of rooftop solar systems.
- Supports climate goals: It reduces dependence on fossil fuel-based power and helps India move towards its clean energy commitments.
How Power Subsidies Slow Adoption
Many States provide free or highly subsidised electricity to domestic and agricultural consumers. This reduces the financial incentive to shift to solar power.
For example, if a household already receives free or very cheap electricity, it may not want to spend money on rooftop solar installation. Similarly, farmers receiving free agricultural power may not find solar pumps attractive.
The main barriers are:
- High upfront cost of solar equipment.
- Low savings when grid power is already subsidised.
- Long payback period.
- Lack of awareness and easy credit.
- Net metering and approval delays.
Thus, power subsidies create a contradiction: they help consumers in the short term but slow long-term clean energy transition.
Need for Targeted Support
Additional solar subsidies may appear contradictory, but they can be useful. Regular power subsidies are a recurring fiscal burden, while solar incentives are mostly one-time investments. States can reduce future subsidy bills by supporting solar adoption today.
Way Forward
- Provide upfront subsidies and easy loans.
- Simplify net metering and installation approvals.
- Target poor households and small farmers.
- Link solar adoption with gradual subsidy reform.
- Promote local maintenance networks.
- Encourage DISCOMs to support rooftop solar.
- Expand awareness through panchayats and urban local bodies.
Conclusion:
Decentralised solar power can make households and farmers energy producers, not just consumers. India must shift from unlimited recurring power subsidies to smart, targeted solar support. This will reduce fiscal stress, strengthen energy security and support a cleaner, more resilient energy future.
