UPSC Prelims Practice Questions — From reducing oil imports to farmer prosperity: Sh. Hardeep Singh Puri launches first Flex-Fuel passenger vehicle

Q1. As per the Government's phased retail rollout plan announced at the launch of India's first flex-fuel passenger vehicle in June 2026, approximately how many Flex-Fuel-ready retail outlets are targeted to be operational by the end of 2027?

  • A. 500
  • B. 1,500
  • C. 5,000
  • D. 12,000

Q2. With reference to the supportive measures announced by the Government of India alongside the June 2026 launch of the first flex-fuel passenger vehicle, which of the following were NOT mentioned as measures being worked upon by the Government?

  1. Road tax concessions for Flex-Fuel Vehicles
  2. Availability of E85 fuel for testing purposes
  3. Mandatory scrappage of all BS-IV petrol passenger vehicles by 2027
  4. Full GST exemption on flex-fuel passenger vehicles
  • A. 1 and 2
  • B. 2 and 4
  • C. 3 and 4 only
  • D. 1, 3 and 4

Q3. With reference to ethanol-petrol blends and Flex-Fuel Vehicles (FFVs) in India, consider the following statements:

  1. E20 petrol is a mixture of 20% anhydrous ethanol with 80% motor gasoline by volume.
  2. A Flex-Fuel Vehicle is capable of running exclusively on E100 and cannot operate on any lower ethanol-petrol blend.
  3. Under Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) specifications, E85 has been identified as the mono-fuel standard for Flex-Fuel Vehicles.
  • A. 1 only
  • B. 1 and 3 only
  • C. 2 and 3 only
  • D. 1, 2 and 3

Q4. At the time of its launch by the Union Petroleum Minister, 'ETHANOL 100' (E100) fuel was made available at select IndianOil retail outlets across how many States/UTs of India?

  • A. Three
  • B. Four
  • C. Five
  • D. Seven

Q5. With reference to the evolution of India's Ethanol Blended Petrol (EBP) Programme, consider the following statements: 1. The National Policy on Biofuels, 2018 set an indicative target of 20% ethanol blending in petrol by the year 2030. 2. The 2022 amendment to the National Policy on Biofuels advanced the 20% ethanol blending target exclusively to the Ethanol Supply Year 2025-26 by completely abolishing every earlier intermediate blending milestone. 3. The Ethanol Blended Petrol Programme in India was launched only after the National Policy on Biofuels, 2018 was notified. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

  1. The National Policy on Biofuels, 2018 set an indicative target of 20% ethanol blending in petrol by the year 2030.
  2. The 2022 amendment to the National Policy on Biofuels advanced the 20% ethanol blending target exclusively to the Ethanol Supply Year 2025-26 by completely abolishing every earlier intermediate blending milestone.
  3. The Ethanol Blended Petrol Programme in India was launched only after the National Policy on Biofuels, 2018 was notified.
  • A. 1 only
  • B. 1 and 2 only
  • C. 2 and 3 only
  • D. 1, 2 and 3

Q6. In the context of India's Ethanol Blended Petrol Programme, the term 'Ethanol Supply Year (ESY)' refers to which one of the following twelve-month periods?

  • A. 1 April of a year to 31 March of the following year
  • B. 1 November of a year to 31 October of the following year
  • C. 1 October of a year to 30 September of the following year
  • D. 1 December of a year to 30 November of the following year

Q7. According to Government of India data on grain-based distilleries used in the Ethanol Blended Petrol (EBP) Programme, the approximate ethanol yield (in litres) from one tonne of rice is:

  • A. 380
  • B. 420
  • C. 450
  • D. 500

Q8. Which of the following is/are NOT classified as a First Generation (1G) ethanol feedstock under the National Policy on Biofuels, 2018 (as amended in 2022)?

  1. Sugarcane juice
  2. Rice straw
  3. Broken rice (damaged food grain)
  4. Bagasse
  • A. 1 and 3
  • B. 2 and 4
  • C. 1, 2 and 4
  • D. 3 only

Q9. With reference to the National Policy on Biofuels, 2018, which of the following is/are NOT categorised as 'Advanced Biofuels'?

  1. Second Generation (2G) ethanol
  2. First Generation (1G) bioethanol
  3. Bio-CNG
  4. Municipal Solid Waste (MSW) to drop-in fuels
  • A. 1 only
  • B. 2 only
  • C. 2 and 4
  • D. 1, 3 and 4

Q10. In the context of the National Policy on Biofuels, 2018, the term 'drop-in fuels' refers to which one of the following?

  • A. Fuels produced from biomass, agri-residues, MSW or plastic wastes that can be used in existing engines without modifying the fuel distribution system
  • B. Algae-derived liquid fuels classified under the Third Generation (3G) biofuel category
  • C. Hydrous ethanol (E100) supplied through dedicated retail outlets for flex-fuel vehicles
  • D. Purified biogas from agricultural residues and sewage having an energy potential comparable to fossil natural gas

Q11. Under the Ethanol Blended Petrol (EBP) Programme, the procurement of ethanol from domestic suppliers for blending into petrol is operationalised exclusively by which one of the following?

  • A. Food Corporation of India under the Department of Food and Public Distribution
  • B. National Agricultural Cooperative Marketing Federation (NAFED)
  • C. Public Sector Oil Marketing Companies under the Ministry of Petroleum & Natural Gas
  • D. National Sugar Institute under the Department of Food and Public Distribution

Q12. Which one of the following is the single largest feedstock category, by installed production capacity, for ethanol used under India's Ethanol Blended Petrol (EBP) Programme?

  • A. Maize
  • B. Damaged foodgrains
  • C. Sugarcane molasses
  • D. Surplus rice from FCI stocks

Q13. According to the life-cycle emissions study by NITI Aayog cited by the Government of India in the context of the Ethanol Blended Petrol Programme, which one of the following ethanol feedstocks shows the highest percentage reduction in greenhouse gas emissions when compared with petrol?

  • A. Maize-based ethanol
  • B. Damaged foodgrain-based ethanol
  • C. Sugarcane-based ethanol
  • D. Rice straw-based ethanol

Q14. With reference to India's ethanol blending push and its alignment with India's climate commitments, consider the following statements: 1. The 2022 amendment to the National Policy on Biofuels advanced the target of 20% ethanol blending in petrol from 2030 to Ethanol Supply Year 2025-26. 2. Under the 'Panchamrit' announced at COP26 in Glasgow, India committed to source all of its installed electricity capacity from non-fossil fuel sources by 2030. 3. The Ethanol Blended Petrol Programme has resulted in a net CO₂ emission reduction of about 736 lakh metric tonnes from ESY 2014-15 up to July 2025. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

  1. The 2022 amendment to the National Policy on Biofuels advanced the target of 20% ethanol blending in petrol from 2030 to Ethanol Supply Year 2025-26.
  2. Under the 'Panchamrit' announced at COP26 in Glasgow, India committed to source all of its installed electricity capacity from non-fossil fuel sources by 2030.
  3. The Ethanol Blended Petrol Programme has resulted in a net CO₂ emission reduction of about 736 lakh metric tonnes from ESY 2014-15 up to July 2025.
  • A. 1 and 2 only
  • B. 1 and 3 only
  • C. 2 and 3 only
  • D. 1, 2 and 3

Q15. The Global Biofuels Alliance (GBA) was launched on the sidelines of the G20 Leaders' Summit held under the Presidency of which one of the following countries?

  • A. Indonesia
  • B. Italy
  • C. India
  • D. Brazil

Q16. How many countries were the founding members of the Global Biofuels Alliance (GBA) at the time of its launch in September 2023?

  • A. 7
  • B. 9
  • C. 12
  • D. 19