UPSC Prelims Practice Questions — An energy revolution in the making

Q1. In late 2022, non-fossil sources made up about 42% of India's installed electric power capacity, but in 2022-23 they supplied only a little over one-fourth of the electricity actually produced in the country. Which of the following inferences can be drawn from the above?

  1. On average, India's non-fossil plants ran at a lower capacity utilisation than its fossil-fuel plants during this period.
  2. Once non-fossil sources cross 50% of installed capacity, they will supply about half of India's electricity.
  3. Fossil-fuel plants' share of electricity produced was larger than their share of installed capacity.
  • A. 1 only
  • B. 1, 2 and 3
  • C. 2 and 3 only
  • D. 1 and 3 only

Q2. Consider the following statements: Which of the following is correct in respect of the above statements?

  1. In India's power-capacity statistics, the non-fossil share of total installed capacity is higher than the share reported under the renewable energy (RE) category.
  2. The non-fossil total adds large hydro and nuclear capacity, which are reported separately from the RE category.
  • A. Both Statement-I and Statement-II are correct and Statement-II explains Statement-I
  • B. Both Statement-I and Statement-II are correct, but Statement-II does not explain Statement-I
  • C. Statement-I is correct, but Statement-II is incorrect
  • D. Statement-I is incorrect, but Statement-II is correct

Q3. With reference to the non-fossil share of installed capacity used to track India's power-sector climate targets, consider the following statements: Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

  1. Nuclear capacity is counted as non-fossil even though nuclear fuel is an exhaustible mineral resource.
  2. If old coal units are retired and no new capacity of any kind is added, the non-fossil share of installed capacity rises.
  3. The non-fossil share of installed capacity can rise in a period during which new coal-based capacity is also added.
  • A. 1 and 3 only
  • B. 1 and 2 only
  • C. 1, 2 and 3
  • D. 2 and 3 only

Q4. Consider the following statements: Which of the following is correct in respect of the above statements?

  1. India met the non-fossil capacity target of its updated Nationally Determined Contribution well before 2030.
  2. The goal of 500 GW of non-fossil capacity by 2030, announced at COP26, is the capacity target written into India's updated NDC.
  • A. Both Statement-I and Statement-II are correct and Statement-II explains Statement-I
  • B. Both Statement-I and Statement-II are correct, but Statement-II does not explain Statement-I
  • C. Statement-I is correct, but Statement-II is incorrect
  • D. Statement-I is incorrect, but Statement-II is correct

Q5. The non-fossil target in India's updated Nationally Determined Contribution (2022) is expressed as a share of which of the following?

  • A. cumulative electric power installed capacity in the country
  • B. total electricity generated in the country during a year
  • C. final energy consumption across all sectors of the economy
  • D. total primary energy supply of the country in a year

Q6. Consider the following assertion: India achieving 50% non-fossil installed capacity does not by itself show that India has met the emissions-intensity goal of its updated NDC. Which of the following statements support/supports the above assertion?

  1. The NDC's non-fossil capacity goal and its emissions-intensity goal are separate quantitative commitments.
  2. Non-fossil sources supply a much smaller share of electricity actually generated than their share of installed capacity.
  3. The emissions intensity of GDP depends on emissions from the whole economy, including industry and transport, and not only from electricity.
  4. Part of India's non-fossil capacity is nuclear, which is not a renewable source of energy.
  • A. 2 and 4 only
  • B. 1, 2 and 3 only
  • C. 1, 2, 3 and 4
  • D. 1 and 3 only

Q7. With reference to the design of the PM-KUSUM scheme, consider the following statements: Which of the statements given above are correct?

  1. Component A enables farmers to set up small grid-connected solar power plants on barren or fallow land.
  2. Since Component B pumps are standalone and off-grid, a farmer under Component B cannot export surplus power to the DISCOM through that system.
  3. Component C is meant for new solar pumps on farms that have never had a grid electricity connection.
  4. Solarising an existing grid-connected pump under Component C lets the farmer feed surplus solar power into the grid.
  • A. 1, 2, 3 and 4
  • B. 2, 3 and 4 only
  • C. 1, 2 and 4 only
  • D. 1 and 4 only

Q8. A household with a valid electricity connection installs a grid-connected rooftop solar system under PM Surya Ghar: Muft Bijli Yojana. With reference to this, consider the following statements: Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

  1. The household can earn additional income when it supplies surplus solar power to the DISCOM.
  2. The central financial assistance is calculated only on the first 3 kW of capacity, even if a larger system is installed.
  3. The central financial assistance per kW rises as system size increases, so that households install larger systems.
  • A. 1, 2 and 3
  • B. 2 and 3 only
  • C. 1 only
  • D. 1 and 2 only