UPSC Prelims Practice Questions — HMT to make components for nuclear reactors

Q1. The 1976 report cited certain countries as existing or proposed destinations for HMT's machine-tool know-how or technical assistance. Consider the following countries and identify the odd one out. Which of the above is/are NOT correctly identified as such a destination?

  1. Philippines
  2. Sri Lanka
  3. Iraq
  4. Indonesia
  • A. 1 and 2
  • B. 2 and 3
  • C. 1 and 4
  • D. 4 only

Q2. In the context of enterprises such as HMT Ltd., the term 'Central Public Sector Enterprise (CPSE)' most precisely refers to:

  • A. A company in which the direct holding of the Central Government and/or other CPSEs is 51% or more
  • B. Any company registered under the Companies Act in which a State Government holds a majority stake
  • C. A statutory corporation created by a special Act of Parliament and wholly financed from the Consolidated Fund of India
  • D. A private company granted a Central Government manufacturing licence to operate in a strategic sector

Q3. The administrative control of HMT Ltd. and the Government's initiative to revive it vest in which one of the following Union Ministries?

  • A. Ministry of Heavy Industries
  • B. Ministry of Commerce and Industry
  • C. Ministry of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises
  • D. Ministry of Corporate Affairs

Q4. Which one of the following is the apex governing/policy body of India's Department of Atomic Energy (DAE)?

  • A. Atomic Energy Commission
  • B. Nuclear Power Corporation of India Ltd.
  • C. Bhabha Atomic Research Centre
  • D. Atomic Energy Regulatory Board

Q5. In the context of NPCIL's ten indigenous 700 MW PHWRs, the term 'fleet mode' most precisely refers to:

  • A. Sanctioning and building a series of reactors of identical standardized design together to gain economies of scale and faster construction
  • B. Operating several reactors coupled to a single shared turbine-generator unit
  • C. Mounting compact reactors on naval vessels to supply power to coastal grids
  • D. Importing complete reactor units as a bundled turnkey package from a single foreign vendor

Q6. The Government accorded bulk administrative approval and financial sanction for ten indigenous 700 MW Pressurised Heavy Water Reactors in fleet mode in which year?

  • A. 2017
  • B. 2016
  • C. 2019
  • D. 2021

Q7. According to the 1976 report, an HMT team was to visit which one country, at that Government's specific request, to help set up a machine-tool plant?

  • A. Kenya
  • B. Iraq
  • C. Philippines
  • D. Sri Lanka

Q8. India's indigenous 700 MW PHWR fleet is characterised by which one of the following combinations of fuel and moderator?

  • A. Natural uranium fuel with heavy water (D2O) serving as both moderator and coolant
  • B. Low-enriched uranium fuel with ordinary (light) water as moderator and coolant
  • C. Uranium-plutonium mixed-oxide fuel with liquid-sodium coolant and no moderator
  • D. Thorium-based fuel with a graphite moderator

Q9. With reference to the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO), consider the following statements. Which of the statements given above is/are NOT correct?

  1. It is a specialized agency of the United Nations, headquartered in Vienna.
  2. Its core mandate is to promote inclusive and sustainable industrial development in developing countries and economies in transition.
  3. It was created by the United Nations General Assembly in 1966.
  4. It serves as the United Nations' principal agency for framing and enforcing the rules governing international trade in industrial goods.
  • A. 3 only
  • B. 4 only
  • C. 1 and 2
  • D. 2 and 4

Q10. Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL), which was accorded Maharatna status in 2024, functions under the administrative control of which one of the following?

  • A. Department of Defence Production, Ministry of Defence
  • B. Ministry of Heavy Industries
  • C. Ministry of Civil Aviation
  • D. Ministry of Science and Technology