It always comes as a surprise to non-specialist observers that, despite the fact that India has 300 days of sunlighton average, solar power plays an almost insignificant role in the Indian energy mix. What they fail to see is the technological, financial, institutional and structural complexity that needs to be mastered to harness this seemingly simple and environmentally benign source of energy as the Jawaharlal Nehru National Solar Mission (JNNSM or NSM) launched by the government of India in 2010 clearly demonstrates. At the industry level, the NSM has given the initial boost the industry requires but many key issues conserving data m technology and finance need to be addressed.