UPSC Prelims Practice Questions — ENERGY TRANSITION AND RENEWABLE CAPACITY

Q1. Among the five 'Panchamrit' climate commitments announced by India at COP26, Glasgow, which one has the farthest (latest) target year?

  • A. Reaching 500 GW of non-fossil energy capacity
  • B. Meeting 50 per cent of energy requirements from renewable energy
  • C. Reducing total projected carbon emissions by one billion tonnes
  • D. Achieving the Net Zero emissions target

Q2. India's 'Panchamrit' — the five-fold climate pledge including the 500 GW non-fossil target — was announced by the Prime Minister at which one of the following Conferences of the Parties (COP)?

  • A. COP21, Paris
  • B. COP26, Glasgow
  • C. COP27, Sharm el-Sheikh
  • D. COP28, Dubai

Q3. With reference to India's achievement of crossing 50 per cent non-fossil installed power capacity as on 30 June 2025, consider the following statements: 1. The total installed generation capacity stood at 484.82 GW. 2. Non-fossil sources accounted for 242.78 GW, about 50.08 per cent of the total. 3. The milestone was reached five years ahead of the 2030 NDC target. 4. Nuclear power alone contributed about 50 GW of this non-fossil capacity. Which of the statements given above is/are NOT correct?

  1. The total installed generation capacity stood at 484.82 GW.
  2. Non-fossil sources accounted for 242.78 GW, about 50.08 per cent of the total.
  3. The milestone was reached five years ahead of the 2030 NDC target.
  4. Nuclear power alone contributed about 50 GW of this non-fossil capacity.
  • A. 1 and 2
  • B. 4 only
  • C. 3 and 4
  • D. 2 only

Q4. What was India's total non-fossil fuel based installed power capacity as on 31 March 2026?

  • A. 242.78 GW
  • B. 274.68 GW
  • C. 283.46 GW
  • D. 484.82 GW

Q5. Under the National Green Hydrogen Mission, what is the green hydrogen production capacity (per annum) targeted to be developed by 2030?

  • A. 5 Million Metric Tonnes
  • B. 50 Million Metric Tonnes
  • C. 125 Million Metric Tonnes
  • D. 19.7 Million Metric Tonnes

Q6. Which ministry is the nodal ministry for implementation of the National Green Hydrogen Mission?

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

Q7. Which one of the following Government of India schemes is described as the world's largest domestic rooftop solar programme?

  • A. PM-KUSUM
  • B. PM Surya Ghar: Muft Bijli Yojana
  • C. Jawaharlal Nehru National Solar Mission
  • D. CPSU Scheme Phase-II

Q8. With reference to the components of the PM-KUSUM scheme, consider the following: 1. Component A: setting up of decentralised ground/stilt-mounted grid-connected solar power plants. 2. Component B: installation of standalone solar agriculture pumps. 3. Component C: solarisation of grid-connected agriculture pumps. 4. Component D: free distribution of rooftop solar systems to one crore urban households. Which of the above is/are NOT correctly described as a component of PM-KUSUM?

  1. Component A: setting up of decentralised ground/stilt-mounted grid-connected solar power plants.
  2. Component B: installation of standalone solar agriculture pumps.
  3. Component C: solarisation of grid-connected agriculture pumps.
  4. Component D: free distribution of rooftop solar systems to one crore urban households.
  • A. 4 only
  • B. 1 and 2
  • C. 3 and 4
  • D. 2 only

Q9. How many National Missions form the core of the National Action Plan on Climate Change (NAPCC)?

  • A. Five
  • B. Six
  • C. Eight
  • D. Ten

Q10. With reference to India's installed capacity as on 31 March 2026, consider the following source–capacity pairs: 1. Solar power — about 150 GW 2. Wind power — about 56 GW 3. Large hydro — about 51 GW 4. Nuclear power — about 25 GW Which of the pairs given above is/are correctly matched?

  1. Solar power — about 150 GW
  2. Wind power — about 56 GW
  3. Large hydro — about 51 GW
  4. Nuclear power — about 25 GW
  • A. 1 and 2 only
  • B. 1, 2 and 3
  • C. 2, 3 and 4
  • D. 1, 3 and 4

Q11. What was the non-fossil installed power capacity target in India's first (original) Nationally Determined Contribution submitted under the Paris Agreement in 2015?

  • A. 40 per cent by 2030
  • B. 50 per cent by 2030
  • C. 45 per cent by 2030
  • D. 33–35 per cent by 2030

Q12. In India's renewable energy institutional framework, what is the primary role of the Indian Renewable Energy Development Agency (IREDA)?

  • A. Issuing utility-scale renewable energy tenders as the nodal implementing agency
  • B. Providing financial assistance and credit for renewable energy and energy-efficiency projects
  • C. Compiling and publishing national installed power-capacity statistics
  • D. Testing and certifying solar modules and conducting R&D