State PCS - Rajasthan (RAS)

• 27 Sep 2025

India’s Largest Battery Storage Project

Why in News?

Prime Minister Narendra Modi laid the foundation for India’s largest battery energy storage project in Bikaner, Rajasthan, alongside a 1,560 MW solar power plant, a key milestone in enhancing renewable energy and energy security.

• The Prime Minister also inaugurated the Avaada Group’s 282 MWp solar power project at a different site in Bikaner, further advancing the region's solar energy infrastructure.

Key Points

• About: The Avaada Group's project integrates a 2,500 MWh Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) with a 1,560 MW-peak (MWp) solar power plant, which is located in Pugal, Bikaner. The combined investment for these initiatives exceeds ₹9,200 crore.
  • The solar power plant and BESS occupy 4,000 acres of land and will be equipped with cutting-edge technology, including Avaada Electro’s ALMM-certified, Made-in-India TOPCon N-Type bifacial solar PV modules, designed to maximise energy efficiency and stabilise the grid.
  • The 1,560 MWp solar plant will provide electricity even outside typical solar hours, further enhancing its contribution to grid stability.
• Shri Dungargarh Solar Project: The 200 MW Shri Dungargarh Solar Project, covering 777 acres in Bikaner, will supply power to Rajasthan Discoms. This initiative ensures a cleaner and more cost-effective energy supply to the state.
• State’s Support: The project's rapid execution—operational in under a year—was made possible by a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed during the Rising Rajasthan event, reflecting the state's commitment to advancing renewable energy.
• Significance: The project will ensure continuous green power, enhance grid resilience, and set new standards for India's energy security.
  • Together, the projects will generate over 1,600 green jobs in Rajasthan, cut CO₂ emissions by 20 lakh tons annually, and conserve 600 lakh litres of water each year through robotic cleaning techniques.

6th Nadi Utsav

Why in the News?

Union Minister for Jal Shakti, Shri C. R. Patil, inaugurated the 6th Nadi Utsav, stressing the collective responsibility of citizens to protect and conserve rivers. 

• He emphasised the Namami Gange project, which focuses on maintaining river cleanliness, preventing encroachments, and preserving sacred rivers that hold religious and cultural value.

Key Points

• Objective: The Nadi Utsav, organised by the Indira Gandhi National Centre for the Arts (IGNCA) under the Ministry of Culture, highlighted the importance of rivers as essential lifelines and cultural reservoirs. 
  • The festival brought together various aspects of rivers, including ecological, cultural, and artistic perspectives, fostering a deeper understanding of their significance.
• Event Duration: The event took place from 25th to 27th September 2025 in Delhi, offering an extensive program that included seminars, film screenings, performances, and exhibitions.
• Seminar: The seminar titled Riverscape Dynamics: Changes and Continuity delved into traditional riverine knowledge, river gods and folk narratives, and the role of rivers in art, craft practices, and science.
• My River Story: This festival segment showcased documentaries focusing on ecological issues and human connections to rivers. Featured films include Gotakhors: Disappearing Diving Communities, River Man of India, Arth Ganga, Molai – Man Behind the Forest, Cauvery – River of Life, and Ladakh – Life along the Indus.
• Nadi Anubhav: Curated by Anuj Agarwal, this exhibition features contemporary artworks, Kalighat paintings, photographs, and poetry, all centred around rivers, blending artistic imagination with ecological awareness.