Consider the following statements: At the present level of technology available in India, solar energy can be conveniently used to 1. supply hot water to residential buildings. 2. supply water for minor irrigation projects. 3. provide street lighting. 4. electrify a cluster of villages and small towns. Of these statements

1. The question asks about the convenient uses of solar energy in India given the technology level around 1996. 2. Statement 1: Supplying hot water using solar water heaters was a well-established and commercially available technology in India by 1996, used in residential and commercial buildings. (Statement 1 is correct). 3. Statement 2: Supplying water for minor irrigation projects using solar photovoltaic (PV) pumps was being implemented, though perhaps not as widespread or 'convenient' as solar water heating due to cost and efficiency limitations at the time. It was feasible. (Statement 2 is plausible/correct in context). 4. Statement 3: Providing street lighting using solar PV panels and battery storage was also a known application being deployed, especially in remote areas without grid access. (Statement 3 is correct). 5. Statement 4: Electrifying a cluster of villages and small towns entirely through solar energy (e.g., microgrids) was technologically possible but less 'convenient' or widespread due to the scale, cost, storage requirements, and reliability concerns compared to the other applications mentioned in 1996. While demonstration projects existed, large-scale electrification was more challenging. (Statement 4 is less likely to be considered 'conveniently used' at that time compared to 1, 2, 3). 6. Considering the common and relatively 'convenient' applications in 1996, solar hot water, solar pumping for irrigation, and solar street lighting were the most established. Thus, statements 1, 2, and 3 seem correct in the context of the time.