- Context: The Tripura government has identified 10 river sites (including the Feni, Manu, and Dhalai rivers) to generate 185 MW of power. This is part of a strategy to meet the state's rising demand, projected to reach 650 MW by 2031.
- Technology Breakdown: Unlike traditional hydropower which uses potential energy (water falling from a height/head created by dams), hydrokinetic turbines harness the kinetic energy of moving water.
- Zero-Head System: It requires no dams, barrages, or diversion weirs.
- Environmental Edge: Since it doesn't require large-scale civil structures, it has a minimal footprint on aquatic ecosystems and does not displace local communities.
- Significance: It provides a continuous (24x7) renewable energy source, unlike solar or wind which are intermittent. For hilly or river-rich states like Tripura, it offers a way to utilize natural water flow without the environmental baggage of mega-dams.
IAS-2026 - OPTIONAL / GEOGRAPHY / PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION / SOCIOLOGY / ANTHROPOLOGY / ORIENTATION ON 03 & 04-10-2025 
