Economy · 10 Aug 2026

polysilicon PLI scheme solar value chain

With reference to India's solar photovoltaic manufacturing value chain, consider the following statements:

  1. India's solar module manufacturing capacity stands at about 213 GW, while its solar cell capacity is only around 32 GW.
  2. India currently imports 100 percent of its polysilicon requirement, primarily from China.
  3. India's ingot and wafer capacity is projected to exceed its solar module capacity by June

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

A1 only
B1 and 2 only
C2 and 3 only
D1, 2 and 3

Tests the ability to track and correctly compare multiple capacity figures across a value chain, catching an inverted magnitude relationship between upstream and downstream numbers.

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This question is based on: India Built the World's Biggest Solar Assembly Line - On an Imported Foundation
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About this question

Why in news

The Ministry of New and Renewable Energy is preparing a dedicated PLI scheme for polysilicon manufacturing after India built roughly 213 GW of downstream solar module assembly capacity while producing zero polysilicon domestically.

Why for UPSC

This format tests whether aspirants can correctly track and compare multiple capacity figures across a supply chain, catching an inverted magnitude relationship between upstream and downstream capacity - a favourite UPSC technique for economy-related statement questions.

Prelims summary

India has 213 GW of solar module capacity but only 32 GW of cell capacity and zero domestic polysilicon production, with ingot-wafer capacity projected to reach just 80 GW by 2028 - far short of matching downstream capacity.

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