UPSC Prelims Practice Questions — Why India’s generation adequacy plan needs a clear counterfactual

Q1. The Guidelines for the Resource Adequacy Planning Framework for the power sector, which underpin the CEA's national adequacy planning, were framed under which one of the following instruments?

  • A. Rule 16 of the Electricity (Amendment) Rules, 2022
  • B. Section 3 of the Electricity Act, 2003
  • C. Section 176 of the Electricity Act, 2003
  • D. Rule 5 of the Electricity (Rights of Consumers) Rules, 2020

Q2. In the context of the CEA's resource adequacy planning, the term 'Planning Reserve Margin (PRM)' most precisely refers to which one of the following?

  • A. The generation capacity planned over and above projected peak demand, needed to reliably meet demand at a stated reliability level
  • B. The capacity kept synchronised and ready to respond to sudden frequency drops within seconds
  • C. The gap between installed capacity and the derated dependable capacity of thermal units
  • D. The minimum share of capacity a DISCOM must contract from renewable sources under its RPO

Q3. With reference to the CEA's National Generation Adequacy Plan (2026-27 to 2035-36), consider the following statements: 1. Coal's share of installed capacity is projected to fall from about 44% in 2026-27 to about 28% by 2035-36. 2. Total installed capacity is projected to roughly double to about 1,121 GW by 2035-36. 3. Of the planned 174 GW/888 GWh of storage by 2035-36, battery storage (BESS) at 94 GW exceeds pumped storage (PSP) at 80 GW. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

  1. Coal's share of installed capacity is projected to fall from about 44% in 2026-27 to about 28% by 2035-36.
  2. Total installed capacity is projected to roughly double to about 1,121 GW by 2035-36.
  3. Of the planned 174 GW/888 GWh of storage by 2035-36, battery storage (BESS) at 94 GW exceeds pumped storage (PSP) at 80 GW.
  • A. 1 and 2 only
  • B. 2 and 3 only
  • C. 1 and 3 only
  • D. 1, 2 and 3

Q4. The following are projected installed capacities by 2035-36 under the National Generation Adequacy Plan: 1. Solar — 509 GW 2. Wind — 155 GW 3. Coal — 315 GW 4. Gas — 78 GW Which of the above is/are NOT correctly matched?

  1. Solar — 509 GW
  2. Wind — 155 GW
  3. Coal — 315 GW
  4. Gas — 78 GW
  • A. 1 and 3
  • B. 4 only
  • C. 2 and 4
  • D. 3 only

Q5. With reference to the resource adequacy (RA) planning framework as compared with earlier deterministic capacity planning, consider the following statements: 1. RA planning relies on probabilistic reliability analysis rather than only a fixed deterministic reserve margin. 2. Under the framework, DISCOMs bear a statutory obligation to contract adequate capacity to meet demand in their area. 3. The Short-term Distribution Resource Adequacy Plans (ST-DRAP) are prepared by DISCOMs for a 10-year horizon. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

  1. RA planning relies on probabilistic reliability analysis rather than only a fixed deterministic reserve margin.
  2. Under the framework, DISCOMs bear a statutory obligation to contract adequate capacity to meet demand in their area.
  3. The Short-term Distribution Resource Adequacy Plans (ST-DRAP) are prepared by DISCOMs for a 10-year horizon.
  • A. 1 and 2 only
  • B. 1 and 3 only
  • C. 2 and 3 only
  • D. 1, 2 and 3

Q6. With reference to the analytical methodology of the CEA's resource adequacy planning, consider the following statements: 1. Least-cost optimization is used to select the capacity mix. 2. Dispatch modelling checks the demand-supply balance across time blocks. 3. Probabilistic reliability analysis using loss-of-load type metrics is applied. 4. The plan guarantees a zero probability of any supply shortfall in every hour of the year. Which of the statements given above is/are NOT correct?

  1. Least-cost optimization is used to select the capacity mix.
  2. Dispatch modelling checks the demand-supply balance across time blocks.
  3. Probabilistic reliability analysis using loss-of-load type metrics is applied.
  4. The plan guarantees a zero probability of any supply shortfall in every hour of the year.
  • A. 4 only
  • B. 1 and 4
  • C. 2 and 3
  • D. 3 only

Q7. With reference to India's coal imports and energy security, consider the following statements: 1. India is the world's largest importer of thermal coal, surpassing China. 2. Indonesia is among India's major sources of imported thermal coal. 3. Power-sector thermal coal imports in FY 2025-26 fell to a four-year low of about 45 million tonnes. 4. Roughly one-quarter to one-third of India's coal requirement is met through imports. Which of the statements given above are correctly identified?

  1. India is the world's largest importer of thermal coal, surpassing China.
  2. Indonesia is among India's major sources of imported thermal coal.
  3. Power-sector thermal coal imports in FY 2025-26 fell to a four-year low of about 45 million tonnes.
  4. Roughly one-quarter to one-third of India's coal requirement is met through imports.
  • A. 1, 2 and 3
  • B. 2, 3 and 4
  • C. 1, 3 and 4
  • D. 2 and 4 only

Q8. Consider the following statements comparing coal-related trends in India: 1. India's power-sector thermal coal imports in FY 2025-26 were lower than in the previous financial year. 2. Under the NGAP, coal's share of electricity generation is projected to fall from about 64% in 2026-27 to about 49% by 2035-36. 3. Imported coal exposes generators to recurring fuel-price risk over a plant life of about 20-25 years, unlike the upfront-capex structure of renewables. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

  1. India's power-sector thermal coal imports in FY 2025-26 were lower than in the previous financial year.
  2. Under the NGAP, coal's share of electricity generation is projected to fall from about 64% in 2026-27 to about 49% by 2035-36.
  3. Imported coal exposes generators to recurring fuel-price risk over a plant life of about 20-25 years, unlike the upfront-capex structure of renewables.
  • A. 1 and 2 only
  • B. 2 and 3 only
  • C. 1 and 3 only
  • D. 1, 2 and 3

Q9. As per the Draft National Electricity Policy 2026, non-fossil sources are targeted to make up the largest share of installed capacity — approximately what share — by 2047?

  • A. 50%
  • B. 70%
  • C. 80%
  • D. Two-thirds

Q10. With reference to the debate over a renewable-plus-storage counterfactual to the NGAP's coal addition, consider the following statements: 1. Critics argue the plan should explicitly stress-test an RE-plus-storage portfolio as a substitute for the planned new coal, at equal reliability. 2. A key technical concern is that variable renewables must meet demand across all time blocks, not merely balance annual energy. 3. New coal plants lock in imported-fuel price risk for two to three decades, unlike renewables. 4. The plan itself proposes to cancel all of the roughly 87 GW of planned new coal in favour of storage. Which of the statements given above are correctly identified?

  1. Critics argue the plan should explicitly stress-test an RE-plus-storage portfolio as a substitute for the planned new coal, at equal reliability.
  2. A key technical concern is that variable renewables must meet demand across all time blocks, not merely balance annual energy.
  3. New coal plants lock in imported-fuel price risk for two to three decades, unlike renewables.
  4. The plan itself proposes to cancel all of the roughly 87 GW of planned new coal in favour of storage.
  • A. 1, 2 and 3
  • B. 2, 3 and 4
  • C. 1 and 4
  • D. 1, 3 and 4

Q11. Consider the following matches relating to India's electricity planning documents: 1. National Electricity Plan (Generation) — notified by CEA for the period 2022-32. 2. National Electricity Policy — mandated under Section 3 of the Electricity Act, 2003. 3. Long-term National Resource Adequacy Plan (2026-27 to 2035-36) — released by CEA in March 2026. 4. Resource Adequacy Planning Framework guidelines — issued in June 2019. Which of the above is/are NOT correctly matched?

  1. National Electricity Plan (Generation) — notified by CEA for the period 2022-32.
  2. National Electricity Policy — mandated under Section 3 of the Electricity Act, 2003.
  3. Long-term National Resource Adequacy Plan (2026-27 to 2035-36) — released by CEA in March 2026.
  4. Resource Adequacy Planning Framework guidelines — issued in June 2019.
  • A. 4 only
  • B. 1 and 3
  • C. 2 and 4
  • D. 3 only

Q12. Which one of the following bodies prepares the consolidated national-level generation/resource adequacy plan (the NGAP) for all-India adequacy?

  • A. Central Electricity Authority (CEA)
  • B. Central Electricity Regulatory Commission (CERC)
  • C. Grid Controller of India (erstwhile POSOCO)
  • D. Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE)