Encouraging self-reliance in the solar energy sector and the Indian government's strategies

Encouraging self-reliance in the solar energy sector and the Indian government's strategies (approximately 2000 words):

India has tremendous potential for solar energy, with about 300 sunny days in a year and vast expanses of unused wasteland. To fully utilize this potential, the Indian government has undertaken various initiatives to encourage self-reliance and investments in the solar sector.

Some of the key strategies and initiatives by the government are:

- National Solar Mission: Launched in 2010, it aims to promote ecologically sustainable growth while addressing India's energy security challenge. It has set a target of 100 GW of solar power in India by 2022. Financial incentives like capital subsidies, tax holidays, cheaper credit are provided.

- Make in India: Launched in 2014, it aims to encourage domestic manufacturing of solar cells/modules and balance of system equipment. This reduces dependence on imports and creates local jobs. The government has provided incentives for setting up domestic manufacturing facilities. 

- Solar Parks: The government is developing ultra mega solar parks in various states to provide land and infrastructure to solar project developers on a plug-and-play basis. This reduces project costs and risks. Eg: one of the world's largest solar park of 2255 MW capacity established at Kurnool, Andhra Pradesh.

- Rooftop Solar: Policies to promote rooftop solar installations through net metering, subsidies and raising awareness. Rooftop solar provides clean energy directly to consumers. Target of 40 GW rooftop solar by 2022 has been set. 

- Solar Pumps: Providing solar powered irrigation pumps to farmers under the KUSUM scheme. This reduces dependence on grid electricity and diesel pumps. 

- Solar R&D: Launching dedicated research institutes and programs to develop better solar technologies suited for India through innovation. Eg: National Institute of Solar Energy.

- Renewable Purchase Obligations: Mandating large power consumers to source a portion of their electricity requirement from renewable sources like solar energy. This creates demand for solar power.

- Grid Integration: Making investments to upgrade and strengthen the transmission grid to handle large scale integration of infirm solar power in terms of interconnections, smart grids and energy storage solutions. 

- Innovative Financing: Providing innovative financing mechanisms like green bonds, low interest rates, credit guarantees etc. to catalyze investments in the solar sector.

- International Collaboration: Undertaking joint research, projects and knowledge exchange on solar energy through international partnerships and forums like ISA, etc. This allows leveraging global expertise.

In the future, India needs to focus on implementing these strategies effectively, integrating larger shares of solar power into the grid, building domestic manufacturing capacity, ramping up rooftop installations, encouraging new business models like solar leasing, aggregators etc. With supportive policies and rapid deployment, India can soon realize its renewable energy goals and become a global solar leader.