The term ‘Domestic Content Requirement’ is sometimes seen in the news with reference to
Answer & explanation
Answer: (a) Developing solar power production in our country
Under the Jawaharlal Nehru National Solar Mission, some solar projects had to use Indian-made solar cells and modules. These Domestic Content Requirements (DCR) were challenged by the United States at the WTO, which is why the term was in the news before 2017.
- ✓ (a) In 2013 the US sought WTO consultations on India's domestic content requirements for solar cells and modules under the National Solar Mission; the panel found the DCR measures gave imported cells and modules less favourable treatment.
- ✗ (b) Licensing of foreign TV channels is governed by uplinking and downlinking guidelines, not by a 'domestic content requirement'.
- ✗ (d) Campuses of foreign universities are a question of education regulation; the DCR debate concerned locally made solar equipment.
Remember · Domestic Content Requirement (DCR) = mandatory use of Indian-made solar cells and modules under the National Solar Mission; the US won the WTO case (DS456) against it.
Sources
- WTO, DS456: India — Certain Measures Relating to Solar Cells and Solar Modules ↗ “the United States requested consultations with India concerning certain measures of India relating to domestic content requirements under the Jawaharlal Nehru National Solar Mission (“NSM”) for solar cells and solar modules. … the Panel found that the discrimination relating to solar cells and modules under the DCR measures is not covered by the government procurement derogation in Article III:8(a) of the GATT 1994.”
Question and answer: UPSC's official GS Paper I (2017, Series A) — paper ↗ · answer key ↗. Explanation: Minimalist IAS, checked 30 Sept 2026 (how we verify). ·