Driven by perpetually rising demand for energy, more than 100 countries including India have enacted policies and programmes for harnessing solar energy. The achievements, however, have been mixed so far. This review provides the
practitioner perspective and reviews the progress made in development of solar energy in Thar desert, Rajasthan— among the most promising solar hotspots in India. Understanding early ground-level efforts for solar energy development is essential, as these insights can prove vital for other regions in India and elsewhere.