🌿⚡ Natural & Energy Resources: Complete UGC NET Guide
💡 Core Concept: India's diverse natural resources and evolving energy mix are crucial for UGC NET (Paper 1 - People & Environment, 5-8 marks) and Geography/Environmental Science papers. This guide covers all major resources with latest data.
☀️ 1. Solar Energy
India's Solar Potential & Progress
| Parameter | Details | NET Relevance |
|---|---|---|
| Potential | 750 GW (MNRE estimate) | Renewable energy questions |
| Installed Capacity | 70.10 GW (March 2023) | Current affairs |
| Top States | Rajasthan, Gujarat, Karnataka | Regional distribution |
Key Schemes:
- National Solar Mission (2010): Target of 100 GW by 2022
- PM-KUSUM: Solar farming scheme
- Solar Parks Policy: 50+ parks approved
🌬️ 2. Wind Energy
Harnessing Atmospheric Currents
| Aspect | Details |
|---|---|
| Potential | 302 GW at 100m hub height |
| Installed Capacity | 42.8 GW (March 2023) |
| Wind Corridors | Tamil Nadu, Gujarat, Maharashtra |
Recent Development: Hybrid Wind-Solar parks gaining traction under National Wind-Solar Hybrid Policy (2018)
🌱 3. Soil Resources
India's Pedological Diversity
| Soil Type | Distribution | Crops |
|---|---|---|
| Alluvial | Indo-Gangetic plains | Rice, Wheat |
| Black (Regur) | Deccan Plateau | Cotton, Soybean |
| Laterite | Western Ghats, NE | Tea, Coffee |
Degradation Issues:
- 146.8 million hectares degraded (ICAR 2020)
- Soil Health Card Scheme (2015) for remediation
💧 4. Hydro Power
River-Based Energy Systems
| Category | Potential | Developed |
|---|---|---|
| Large Hydro | 145,320 MW | 46,850 MW |
| Small Hydro | 21,134 MW | 4,900 MW |
Policy Shift: Large hydro (>25MW) classified as renewable in 2019
🌋 5. Geothermal Energy
Untapped Potential
Key Sites:
- Puga Valley (Ladakh) - 50MW potential
- Tattapani (Chhattisgarh)
- Cambay Graben (Gujarat)
NET Note: India has 340 hot springs across 7 provinces but limited commercial exploitation
🌾 6. Biomass Energy
Organic Matter Utilization
| Type | Potential | Usage |
|---|---|---|
| Agricultural Waste | 500 million tonnes/year | Biogas, pellets |
| Animal Dung | 1,300 million m³ biogas | Gobar-Dhan plants |
⚛️ 7. Nuclear Energy
Atomic Power Infrastructure
| Plant | Location | Capacity (MW) |
|---|---|---|
| Kudankulam | Tamil Nadu | 2,000 |
| Tarapur | Maharashtra | 1,400 |
Three-Stage Program:
- Pressurized Heavy Water Reactors (PHWRs)
- Fast Breeder Reactors (Prototype at Kalpakkam)
- Thorium-Based Reactors (Future)
🌳 8. Forest Resources
India's Green Wealth
| Category | Area (sq km) | % of GA |
|---|---|---|
| Total Forest Cover | 713,789 | 21.71% |
| Very Dense Forest | 99,779 | 3.04% |
Conservation Schemes: Green India Mission, Nagar Van Yojana, CAMPA funds
📊 Energy Mix Comparison (2023)
| Source | % Share | Advantages | Challenges |
|---|---|---|---|
| Coal | 49.1% | Baseload power | High emissions |
| Renewables | 29.2% | Clean energy | Intermittency |
🧠Expected UGC NET Questions
- Which state leads in solar power generation? (Ans: Rajasthan)
- The Puga Valley is associated with which energy source? (Ans: Geothermal)
- India's nuclear program stage using thorium is? (Ans: Third stage)
📚 Preparation Tips
- Memorize state-wise resource distribution maps
- Note installed capacities vs potential gaps
- Link resources to relevant government schemes
