State PCS - Uttarakhand (UKPSC)

• 12 Nov 2025

Sukhatal Lake

Why in News? 

The Uttarakhand High Court has sought a report from the Nainital District Development Authority regarding the ongoing beautification and construction works at Sukhatal Lake.

Key Points 

• Sukhatal is a freshwater lake located about 1.5 km from Nainital town, and it feeds the Naini Lake through its wetland characteristics. 
• The lake remains filled with water for only about three months in a year, and stays dry for the rest of the time, which is why it is named Sukhatal (“dry lake”). 
• Earlier, it was known as Khudariya Tal, as its water used to flow into the outermost part of the Nainital Lake. 
• In 1841, when Peter Barron discovered Nainital, the lake remained filled for most of the year, and ice skating was done here during winters. 
• After 1992, due to excessive construction around the lake and climate change, it has remained mostly dry. 
• The ongoing beautification project aims at both tourism promotion and ecological conservation. 

India’s First MWh-Scale Vanadium Redox Flow Battery (VRFB)

Why in News? 

Union Minister for Power and Housing & Urban Affairs inaugurated India’s first megawatt-hour (MWh) scale Vanadium Redox Flow Battery (VRFB) in Greater Noida. 

Key Points 

• About: 
  • The 3 MWh Vanadium Redox Flow Battery (VRFB) is developed by National Thermal Power Corporation (NTPC)’s NETRA (National Energy Technology Research Alliance)  
  • It aims to demonstrate Long Duration Energy Storage (LDES) technology for large-scale renewable energy integration and grid stability. 
• Vanadium Redox Flow Battery (VRFB): 
  • It uses vanadium ions in different oxidation states to store and discharge electricity efficiently. 
  • The system offers long operational life, and excellent scalability compared to lithium-ion batteries. 
  • Non-flammable electrolytes make it safer for large-scale energy storage applications. 
  • It is well-suited for grid-scale renewable energy storage, microgrids, and peak-load management. 
  • VRFBs are increasingly viewed as a sustainable alternative for integrating intermittent renewable sources like solar and wind into the grid.