KOLKATA, INDIA: India's ambitious National Solar Mission, which aims to generate 20,000 megawatts of solar power by 2020, has a target launch date of November 14, a top official said here Friday.

"The overall structure and draft of the National Solar Mission have been approved by the prime minister (Manmohan Singh). The target date for the launch is November 14," said Prime Minister's Special Envoy on Climate Change Shyam Saran.

The mission, which is part of the National Action Plan on Climate Change (NAPCC), aims to promote the development and use of solar energy in India for power generation and other uses with the ultimate objective of making solar energy competitive with fossil-based energy options.

"We are looking at a renewable purchase obligation with regard to solar energy. Utilities will have to include a specified minimum proportion of solar energy in their energy purchases," Saran said.

©IANS