UPSC Prelims Practice Questions — Why is India pushing piped gas now?

Q1. With reference to the institutional framework governing City Gas Distribution in India, consider the following statements. Which of the statements given above are correctly identified?

  1. The PNGRB was established under the Petroleum and Natural Gas Regulatory Board Act, 2006.
  2. The exclusive licensed zone authorised to a single CGD entity is termed a Geographical Area (GA).
  3. The PNGRB functions under the administrative control of the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy.
  4. After the 12/12A bidding round, CGD networks were authorised in 307 Geographical Areas.
  • A. 1, 2 and 3
  • B. 1, 2 and 4
  • C. 2, 3 and 4
  • D. 1, 3 and 4

Q2. Which one of the following was the first Indian city to receive Piped Natural Gas (PNG) connections, in 1987?

  • A. Delhi
  • B. Mumbai
  • C. Vadodara
  • D. Surat

Q3. Consider the following statements comparing Piped Natural Gas (PNG) and Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG). Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

  1. Unlike LPG, which is delivered in pressurised cylinders, PNG is supplied to households through an underground pipeline network.
  2. LPG is primarily a mixture of propane and butane, whereas PNG is predominantly methane.
  3. PNG is heavier than air and accumulates near the ground on leakage, making it more hazardous than LPG.
  • A. 1 only
  • B. 1 and 2 only
  • C. 2 and 3 only
  • D. 1, 2 and 3

Q4. In the context of City Gas Distribution in India, what does a 'Geographical Area (GA)' denote?

  • A. An exclusive licensed zone authorised by the PNGRB to a single CGD entity to develop and operate the gas network
  • B. An administrative district notified by the State government for levying a gas cess
  • C. A free-trade zone where natural gas may be imported duty-free for re-export
  • D. A natural gas sedimentary basin demarcated for upstream exploration blocks

Q5. City Gas Distribution networks supplying PNG and CNG in India are authorised and regulated by which one of the following bodies?

  • A. Petroleum and Natural Gas Regulatory Board (PNGRB)
  • B. GAIL (India) Limited
  • C. Bureau of Energy Efficiency
  • D. Directorate General of Hydrocarbons

Q6. The Natural Gas and Petroleum Products Distribution (Through Laying, Building, Operation and Expansion of Pipelines and Other Facilities) Order, 2026 was notified under which one of the following laws?

  • A. The Essential Commodities Act, 1955
  • B. The Petroleum and Natural Gas Regulatory Board Act, 2006
  • C. The Petroleum Act, 1934
  • D. The Oilfields (Regulation and Development) Act, 1948

Q7. With reference to the Natural Gas and Petroleum Products Distribution Order, 2026, consider the following statements. Which of the statements given above are correctly identified?

  1. It provides time-bound approvals with deemed-approval provisions to remove procedural delays.
  2. It establishes a single, harmonised framework across jurisdictions to reduce fragmentation in permissions.
  3. It was notified by the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas.
  4. It replaces the PNGRB Act, 2006 as the statutory basis for authorising CGD entities.
  • A. 1, 2 and 3
  • B. 1, 2 and 4
  • C. 2, 3 and 4
  • D. 1, 3 and 4

Q8. Consider the following statements regarding the Compressed Bio-Gas Blending Obligation (CBO) in the City Gas Distribution sector. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

  1. The CBO was voluntary until FY 2024-25 and became mandatory from FY 2025-26.
  2. For FY 2025-26, the obligation is set at 1% of total CNG/PNG consumption.
  3. The obligation remains fixed at 1% in every subsequent year and is never raised.
  • A. 1 only
  • B. 1 and 2 only
  • C. 2 and 3 only
  • D. 1, 2 and 3

Q9. Which one of the following best describes Compressed Bio-Gas (CBG), which is being blended into CNG/PNG under the CBO?

  • A. Purified and compressed biogas produced by anaerobic decomposition of waste/biomass, with high methane content
  • B. Natural gas drawn from gas fields and compressed to 200-250 bar for vehicular use
  • C. A propane-butane co-product of crude oil refining, compressed into cylinders
  • D. Natural gas cooled to about -160 C to reduce its volume for shipping

Q10. According to the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas, the operational natural gas pipeline length in India in 2014 stood at approximately which figure (rising to 24,945 km by September 2024)?

  • A. 15,340 km
  • B. 24,945 km
  • C. 25,429 km
  • D. 10,805 km

Q11. In the context of India's push to convert households from LPG to PNG, the term 'import substitution' specifically refers to:

  • A. Replacing imported LPG with domestically produced natural gas supplied as PNG
  • B. Importing only LNG and never importing any LPG under any circumstances
  • C. Exporting all surplus domestic natural gas to neighbouring countries
  • D. Substituting all natural gas use with imported coal-bed methane