UPSC Prelims Practice Questions — Flex Fuel Vehicles offer India a practical solution to reduce crude oil imports, provide additional income to Indian farmers, and advance low-carbon mobility: Sh. Hardeep Singh Puri

Q1. With reference to Flex Fuel Vehicles (FFVs) as defined under India's Ethanol Blended Petrol programme, consider the following statements regarding their technical characteristics: 1. They are powered by an internal combustion engine, not by a fuel cell or pure battery-electric drivetrain. 2. As notified by India, they are required to run exclusively on E100 (anhydrous ethanol) and cannot be operated on pure petrol. 3. India has notified mass emission standards for FFVs capable of running on E85 or E100. 4. A BS-6 Stage-II prototype combining a flex-fuel engine with an electric powertrain (electrified FFV) has been unveiled in India. Which of the statements given above is/are NOT correct?

  1. They are powered by an internal combustion engine, not by a fuel cell or pure battery-electric drivetrain.
  2. As notified by India, they are required to run exclusively on E100 (anhydrous ethanol) and cannot be operated on pure petrol.
  3. India has notified mass emission standards for FFVs capable of running on E85 or E100.
  4. A BS-6 Stage-II prototype combining a flex-fuel engine with an electric powertrain (electrified FFV) has been unveiled in India.
  • A. 2 only
  • B. 1 and 3
  • C. 2 and 4
  • D. 3 and 4 only

Q2. In the context of India's biofuel policy, the term 'Flex Fuel Vehicle (FFV)' most precisely refers to which one of the following?

  • A. A vehicle with an internal combustion engine designed to operate on petrol, ethanol, or any blend of the two up to E85/E100
  • B. A battery-electric vehicle whose lithium-ion cells are manufactured using bio-derived electrolytes
  • C. A hydrogen fuel-cell vehicle in which hydrogen is produced by reforming bio-ethanol on board
  • D. A compressed-natural-gas vehicle retrofitted to additionally accept a 20% ethanol-petrol blend (E20)

Q3. With reference to the National Policy on Biofuels, 2018 and its 2022 amendment, consider the following statements:

  1. The original 2018 Policy set the target of 20% ethanol blending in petrol by 2030, which the 2022 amendment advanced to Ethanol Supply Year 2025-26.
  2. The categorisation of biofuels into 'Basic Biofuels' and 'Advanced Biofuels' was introduced for the first time by the 2022 amendment.
  3. The 2022 amendment expanded the range of permitted feedstocks for ethanol production.
  • A. 1 only
  • B. 1 and 3 only
  • C. 2 and 3 only
  • D. 1, 2 and 3

Q4. Under the National Policy on Biofuels, 2018, how many distinct generations of biofuels (such as 1G, 2G, 3G) are exclusively classified under the 'Advanced Biofuels' category?

  • A. One
  • B. Two
  • C. Three
  • D. Four

Q5. With reference to the milestones of India's Ethanol Blended Petrol (EBP) Programme, which one of the following was the first city to host the launch of E20 fuel for retail sale by the Prime Minister of India?

  • A. New Delhi
  • B. Bengaluru
  • C. Pune
  • D. Hyderabad

Q6. In which year was the Ethanol Blended Petrol (EBP) Programme first launched in India on a pilot basis by the Government of India?

  • A. 2001
  • B. 2003
  • C. 2008
  • D. 2018

Q7. Under the Ethanol Blended Petrol (EBP) Programme of the Government of India, which of the following are permitted feedstocks for the production of ethanol supplied to Oil Marketing Companies?

  1. C-heavy molasses
  2. B-heavy molasses and partial sugarcane juice
  3. 100% sugarcane juice
  4. Jatropha curcas oilseeds
  • A. 1 and 2 only
  • B. 2 and 3 only
  • C. 1, 2 and 3 only
  • D. 1, 2, 3 and 4

Q8. In the context of the Ethanol Blended Petrol Programme, the expression 'transforming the Annadata into Urjadata', frequently used by the Government of India, specifically refers to which one of the following?

  • A. Farmers earning additional income by supplying agricultural feedstocks (such as sugarcane juice, molasses, maize and damaged food grains) for blending fuel ethanol
  • B. Installation of solar pumps on agricultural holdings enabling cultivators to sell surplus solar power to the grid
  • C. Use of cattle dung and crop residues by farmers to produce compressed biogas under the SATAT initiative
  • D. Decentralised generation of rural electricity through biomass gasifiers installed in village clusters

Q9. On 3 June 2026, Hero MotoCorp unveiled its first flex-fuel motorcycles in the presence of Union Ministers Sh. Hardeep Singh Puri and Sh. Nitin Gadkari. How many motorcycle models did Hero MotoCorp launch as flex-fuel variants on this occasion?

  • A. One
  • B. Two
  • C. Three
  • D. Four

Q10. Which one of the following two-wheeler manufacturers launched India's first flex-fuel motorcycle (E20–E85 capable) in June 2026?

  • A. Bajaj Auto
  • B. TVS Motor Company
  • C. Hero MotoCorp
  • D. Royal Enfield

Q11. With reference to the environmental and strategic outcomes of India's Ethanol Blended Petrol (EBP) Programme since 2014, as officially reported by the Government of India, which of the following statements is/are correct?

  1. The cumulative reduction in CO2 emissions attributable to ethanol blending in petrol has crossed 700 lakh metric tonnes.
  2. Cumulative foreign exchange savings on account of crude oil substitution by ethanol have exceeded ₹1.4 lakh crore.
  3. The 10% ethanol blending milestone in petrol was achieved ahead of its originally scheduled target date.
  4. The Programme has reduced India's overall crude oil import dependency to below 50% of domestic requirement.
  • A. 1, 2 and 3 only
  • B. 2 and 4 only
  • C. 1, 3 and 4 only
  • D. 1, 2, 3 and 4

Q12. In the context of India's National Policy on Biofuels and low-carbon mobility roadmap, the term 'Flex Fuel Vehicle' (FFV) most precisely refers to which one of the following?

  • A. A vehicle whose internal combustion engine is designed to run on petrol blended with ethanol in variable proportions ranging from E20 up to E85/E100
  • B. A vehicle powered solely by compressed bio-gas (CBG) blended with CNG in a fixed proportion
  • C. A plug-in hybrid electric vehicle that switches between a petrol engine and a hydrogen fuel cell stack
  • D. A diesel vehicle retrofitted to operate exclusively on biodiesel blended up to B20 with mineral diesel

Q13. With reference to flex-fuel and ethanol programmes globally, which of the following statements is/are NOT correct?

  1. Brazil inaugurated its national ethanol programme 'PROALCOOL' in 1975 primarily to reduce its crude oil import bill.
  2. The United States markets E85 as a flex-fuel option, in which vehicles can run on blends containing up to 85% ethanol.
  3. The world's first BS-6 Stage-II 'Electrified Flex Fuel Vehicle' prototype was unveiled in India by Maruti Suzuki.
  4. India's Ethanol Blended Petrol (EBP) Programme was first launched in 2003.
  • A. 3 only
  • B. 1 and 3
  • C. 2 and 4
  • D. 3 and 4 only

Q14. In India, the Ethanol Blended Petrol (EBP) Programme is operationalised solely through Public Sector Oil Marketing Companies acting as monopsony buyers of ethanol. The nodal Union Ministry that implements this programme is the:

  • A. Ministry of New and Renewable Energy
  • B. Ministry of Road Transport and Highways
  • C. Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas
  • D. Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare

Q15. With reference to India's biofuels governance, which one of the following correctly describes the National Biofuel Coordination Committee (NBCC)?

  • A. A statutory regulator constituted under the Energy Conservation Act, 2001 and chaired by the Prime Minister.
  • B. An inter-ministerial coordination committee chaired by the Union Minister of Petroleum & Natural Gas that takes policy decisions, including on permissible feedstocks for ethanol production.
  • C. A technical sub-committee of the Bureau of Indian Standards that frames specifications for ethanol-blended petrol.
  • D. A Parliamentary Standing Committee that periodically reviews implementation of the National Policy on Biofuels.

Q16. With reference to the institutional and regulatory framework of India's Ethanol Blended Petrol (EBP) Programme, consider the following statements:

  1. The Ethanol Blended Petrol Programme is implemented by the Ministry of Petroleum & Natural Gas through Public Sector Oil Marketing Companies.
  2. The administered procurement price of ethanol payable by Public Sector Oil Marketing Companies is approved by the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs.
  3. The Bureau of Indian Standards lays down the specifications for ethanol-blended motor gasoline sold under the programme.
  4. The 2022 amendment to the National Policy on Biofuels transferred the nodal implementing role for the EBP Programme from the Ministry of Petroleum & Natural Gas to the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy.
  • A. 1, 2 and 3 only
  • B. 2 and 4 only
  • C. 1 and 3 only
  • D. 1, 3 and 4 only