The Prime Minister?s council on climate change met on Monday to deliberate on the National Action Plan on Climate Change, particularly the proposed national solar plan and issues like targets, subsidy and policy measures. The National Solar Plan is proposed to be launched under the National Solar Mission, which is one of the eight missions under the National Action Plan on Climate Change
The National Solar Mission seeks to raise the share of solar power in the country?s energy mix by focusing on both photovoltaics and solar thermal power. It gives a priority to R&D to develop cheaper solar power systems and storage facilities. The mission estimates that 1% of India’s land area is sufficient to serve the country?s electricity requirements till 2030.
In addition to the prime minister Manmohan Singh, the council includes finance minister Pranab Mukherjee, agriculture minister Sharad Pawar, external affairs minister SM Krishna, new & renewable energy minister Farooq Abdullah, environment & forests minister Jairam Ramesh, deputy chairman of planning commission Montek Singh Ahluwalia, investment commission chairman Ratan Tata, Teri chairperson R K Pachauri.