UPSC Prelims Practice Questions — What’s ailing India’s battery scheme for EVs?

Q1. With reference to firms currently holding a Programme Agreement under the PLI Scheme for Advanced Chemistry Cell (ACC) Battery Storage as of 2025, consider the following: 1. Reliance New Energy Battery Limited 2. Ola Electric Mobility Private Limited 3. Hyundai Global Motors Company Limited 4. Tata Chemicals Limited Which of the above is/are correctly identified as a beneficiary firm under the scheme?

  1. Reliance New Energy Battery Limited
  2. Ola Electric Mobility Private Limited
  3. Hyundai Global Motors Company Limited
  4. Tata Chemicals Limited
  • A. 1 and 2 only
  • B. 2 and 3 only
  • C. 1, 2 and 3 only
  • D. 1, 2, 3 and 4

Q2. As of the end of 2025, how much ACC battery manufacturing capacity (in GWh) has cumulatively been awarded to beneficiary firms under the PLI Scheme for Advanced Chemistry Cell (ACC) Battery Storage, out of the scheme's overall target of 50 GWh?

  • A. 20 GWh
  • B. 30 GWh
  • C. 40 GWh
  • D. 50 GWh

Q3. With reference to the original (2022) and supplementary (2024-25) bidding rounds under the PLI Scheme for Advanced Chemistry Cell (ACC) Battery Storage, consider the following statements: 1. The original round received bids of approximately 130 GWh cumulative capacity, whereas the supplementary round attracted seven bids for 10 GWh capacity. 2. The supplementary round awarded the entire 10 GWh capacity to a single bidder, in contrast to the multi-firm allotment of the original round. 3. Both rounds were administered by the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

  1. The original round received bids of approximately 130 GWh cumulative capacity, whereas the supplementary round attracted seven bids for 10 GWh capacity.
  2. The supplementary round awarded the entire 10 GWh capacity to a single bidder, in contrast to the multi-firm allotment of the original round.
  3. Both rounds were administered by the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy.
  • A. 1 only
  • B. 1 and 2 only
  • C. 2 and 3 only
  • D. 1, 2 and 3

Q4. Which one of the following is the flagship Government of India programme, approved by the Cabinet in 2021, that provides production-linked incentives specifically for domestic manufacturing of Advanced Chemistry Cell (ACC) battery storage?

  • A. FAME-II Scheme (2019)
  • B. National Mission on Transformative Mobility and Battery Storage (2019)
  • C. National Programme on Advanced Chemistry Cell Battery Storage (2021)
  • D. PM E-DRIVE Scheme (2024)