Energy transition plans must be mindful of geopolitical vulnerabilities and avoid deepening India’s dependence on external sources for critical imports. Strategic thinking is warranted. The two obsessions of the West, the water-power-guzzling AI and energy transition, do not sit well with each other. One has to give. It appears to be the latter because the more the West (Europe, in particular) goes for wind and solar in its energy mix, the greater the coal consumption in China. The link between the two runs as follows: the requirement for critical minerals and rare earths rises with the share of renewable energy in the overall energy consumption. China dominates the production or processing of these materials. Processing requires cheap power. Otherwise, these inputs would be costlier, making energy transition even more expensive for Europe than it already is. Cheap power is possible only with coal-fired thermal plants. So, both are two sides of the same coin. This complex interplay makes one thing clear for India. It has to focus a lot more than it has so far on adaptation than on emission mitigation.

The primary purpose of the passage is to:
(a) Critique Western nations for their hypocritical approach to climate change and energy policy.
(b) Analyze the unintended geopolitical and environmental consequences of the current global energy transition and propose a revised strategic direction for India.
(c) Advocate for increased global investment in alternative, less mineral-intensive renewable energy technologies.
(d) Detail the economic mechanisms through which China maintains its dominance in the critical minerals market.

Question

Energy transition plans must be mindful of geopolitical vulnerabilities and avoid deepening India&rsquo;s dependence on external sources for critical imports. Strategic thinking is warranted. The two obsessions of the West, the water-power-guzzling AI and energy transition, do not sit well with each other. One has to give. It appears to be the latter because the more the West (Europe, in particular) goes for wind and solar in its energy mix, the greater the coal consumption in China. The link between the two runs as follows: the requirement for critical minerals and rare earths rises with the share of renewable energy in the overall energy consumption. China dominates the production or processing of these materials. Processing requires cheap power. Otherwise, these inputs would be costlier, making energy transition even more expensive for Europe than it already is. Cheap power is possible only with coal-fired thermal plants. So, both are two sides of the same coin. This complex interplay makes one thing clear for India. It has to focus a lot more than it has so far on adaptation than on emission mitigation.

The primary purpose of the passage is to:
(a) Critique Western nations for their hypocritical approach to climate change and energy policy.
(b) Analyze the unintended geopolitical and environmental consequences of the current global energy transition and propose a revised strategic direction for India.
(c) Advocate for increased global investment in alternative, less mineral-intensive renewable energy technologies.
(d) Detail the economic mechanisms through which China maintains its dominance in the critical minerals market.

ONLiNE UPSC · Accepted Answer

Statement (a) is not correct. While the link between Western renewables and Chinese coal use might imply a critique, the passage's main aim is not to cast blame but to analyze a complex situation and draw strategic conclusions for India.

Statement (b) is correct. The passage analyzes the "complex interplay" involving Western policies, Chinese industry, and mineral supply chains, highlighting "geopolitical vulnerabilities" and "coal consumption" (unintended consequences). It then explicitly concludes with a strategic proposal for India ("This complex interplay makes one thing clear for India. It has to focus a lot more than it has so far on adaptation than on emission mitigation").

Statement (c) is not correct. The passage identifies the problem with current mineral-intensive renewables but does not explicitly advocate for investment in alternative renewable technologies as its primary purpose or solution.

Statement (d) is not correct. The passage explains one key mechanism (cheap coal power for processing) but doesn't offer a comprehensive detailing of all economic mechanisms behind China's dominance. This is a supporting idea, not the primary purpose.

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Energy transition plans must be mindful of geopolitical vulnerabilities and avoid deepening India’s dependence on external sources for critical imports. Strategic thinking is warranted. The two obsessions of the West, the water-power-guzzling AI and energy transition, do not sit well with each other. One has to give. It appears to be the latter because the more the West (Europe, in particular) goes for wind and solar in its energy mix, the greater the coal consumption in China. The link between the two runs as follows: the requirement for critical minerals and rare earths rises with the share of renewable energy in the overall energy consumption. China dominates the production or processing of these materials. Processing requires cheap power. Otherwise, these inputs would be costlier, making energy transition even more expensive for Europe than it already is. Cheap power is possible only with coal-fired thermal plants. So, both are two sides of the same coin. This complex interplay makes one thing clear for India. It has to focus a lot more than it has so far on adaptation than on emission mitigation. The primary purpose of the passage is to: (a) Critique Western nations for their hypocritical approach to climate change and energy policy. (b) Analyze the unintended geopolitical and environmental consequences of the current global energy transition and propose a revised strategic direction for India. (c) Advocate for increased global investment in alternative, less mineral-intensive renewable energy technologies. (d) Detail the economic mechanisms through which China maintains its dominance in the critical minerals market.