UPSC Prelims Practice Questions — A unified policy architecture for India’s energy future

Q1. The following are often listed as India's 'Panchamrit' commitments that underpin the case for a unified national energy framework. Which one of the following is NOT correct?

  1. 500 GW of non-fossil energy capacity by 2030.
  2. Reduction of projected carbon emissions by one billion tonnes by 2030.
  3. Net-zero emissions by 2070.
  4. Doubling of domestic coal production capacity by 2030.
  • A. 1 only
  • B. 2 only
  • C. 3 only
  • D. 4 only

Q2. With reference to India's Nationally Determined Contribution and its recent non-fossil capacity milestones, consider the following statements. Which one of the following is NOT correct?

  1. India reached 50% of installed electricity capacity from non-fossil sources by June 2025.
  2. This milestone was achieved five years ahead of the relevant NDC target.
  3. India's total installed power generation capacity crossed 505 GW.
  4. India's net-zero target was first announced in its 2015 Nationally Determined Contribution.
  • A. 1 only
  • B. 2 only
  • C. 3 only
  • D. 4 only

Q3. India's 'Panchamrit' set of five climate commitments was announced by the Prime Minister at which one of the following summits?

  • A. COP26, Glasgow (2021)
  • B. COP21, Paris (2015)
  • C. COP27, Sharm el-Sheikh (2022)
  • D. COP28, Dubai (2023)

Q4. The 'energy trilemma' framework and the associated World Energy Trilemma Index are developed and published by which one of the following bodies?

  • A. World Energy Council
  • B. International Energy Agency
  • C. World Bank
  • D. United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change

Q5. In the World Energy Council's energy trilemma, the dimension of 'energy equity' primarily refers to which one of the following?

  • A. The accessibility and affordability of energy supplies across a population
  • B. The reduction of greenhouse gas emissions from the energy sector
  • C. The diversity and reliability of a nation's energy sources against supply shocks
  • D. The equitable sharing of energy revenues between the centre and states

Q6. With reference to NITI Aayog's 'Scenarios Towards Viksit Bharat and Net Zero' study released in 2026, consider the following statements. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

  1. It is India's first government-led, multi-sectoral, integrated study assessing Viksit Bharat 2047 alongside net-zero by 2070.
  2. It was released as a set of 11 study reports in February 2026.
  3. It identifies the incremental financing gap as being led by the transport sector.
  • A. 1 and 2 only
  • B. 1 and 3 only
  • C. 2 and 3 only
  • D. 1, 2 and 3

Q7. How many study reports did NITI Aayog release under its 'Scenarios Towards Viksit Bharat and Net Zero' exercise in February 2026?

  • A. 7
  • B. 9
  • C. 11
  • D. 4

Q8. Which one of the following is the nodal Union ministry overseeing India's climate change policy, including its net-zero-by-2070 commitment?

  • A. Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change
  • B. Ministry of New and Renewable Energy
  • C. Ministry of Power
  • D. Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas

Q9. In India's recent expansion of non-fossil generation towards its net-zero pathway, which one of the following technologies has led the capacity additions?

  • A. Solar
  • B. Nuclear
  • C. Large hydro
  • D. Biomass

Q10. India Energy Week 2026 was held under the patronage of which one of the following Union ministries?

  • A. Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas
  • B. Ministry of New and Renewable Energy
  • C. Ministry of Power
  • D. Ministry of Coal

Q11. Which one of the following is the nodal Union ministry for all matters relating to new and renewable energy in India?

  • A. Ministry of New and Renewable Energy
  • B. Ministry of Power
  • C. Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change
  • D. Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas