India commissions first geothermal wells in Puga Valley of Ladakh

Exam-focused facts from the 20 July 2026 current affairs briefing.

Key facts

Lieutenant Governor VK Saxena commissioned India's first two geothermal wells at Puga Valley in Ladakh on July 17, 2026.
The wells were drilled by ONGC Energy Centre to a target depth of 1,000 metres each, with the first completed on May 22, 2026, and the second on July 8, 2026.
A maximum temperature of 135 degrees Celsius was recorded at a depth of 400 metres during drilling.
The wells are critical for India's first 1 MW pilot geothermal power project at Puga, intended as a demonstration-scale project.
The project was executed in one of the world's most challenging operating environments, featuring extreme weather, rugged terrain, and a limited annual working season.