UPSC Prelims Practice Questions — Apple draws ₹100-cr. ‘green’ plan for India

Q1. The May 2026 announcement of Apple Inc.'s ₹100-crore clean energy and environmental initiatives for India was led by which of the following officials, in her capacity as Apple's Vice-President of Environment and Supply Chain Innovation?

  • A. Lisa Jackson
  • B. Katherine Adams
  • C. Sarah Chandler
  • D. Deirdre O'Brien

Q2. Apple's 2030 carbon-neutrality pledge, which underpins its 2026 India clean energy plan, explicitly covers 'Scope 3' emissions. In greenhouse-gas accounting frameworks such as the GHG Protocol, the term 'Scope 3 emissions' refers to:

  • A. Direct emissions from sources owned or controlled by the reporting company, such as on-site fuel combustion
  • B. Indirect emissions associated with the generation of purchased electricity, steam, heating and cooling consumed by the company
  • C. All other indirect emissions occurring across the company's value chain, including those from suppliers, transportation and the use of sold products
  • D. Emissions of ozone-depleting substances regulated under the Montreal Protocol and its Kigali Amendment

Q3. With reference to Apple Inc.'s clean energy and environmental initiatives in India announced in May 2026, consider the following entities and their stated roles: 1. CleanMax — co-investment partner for developing over 150 MW of renewable energy capacity. 2. WWF-India — partner on recovery-focused recycling and waste-management initiatives, including work with Saahas Zero Waste in Goa. 3. Acumen — provider of catalytic grants and mentorship to green entrepreneurship startups in India. 4. The Energy and Resources Institute (TERI) — verifier of green credits generated under the initiative. Which of the above is/are correctly identified?

  1. CleanMax — co-investment partner for developing over 150 MW of renewable energy capacity.
  2. WWF-India — partner on recovery-focused recycling and waste-management initiatives, including work with Saahas Zero Waste in Goa.
  3. Acumen — provider of catalytic grants and mentorship to green entrepreneurship startups in India.
  4. The Energy and Resources Institute (TERI) — verifier of green credits generated under the initiative.
  • A. 1 and 2 only
  • B. 2, 3 and 4
  • C. 1, 2 and 3 only
  • D. 1, 3 and 4

Q4. Apple's 2026 partnership with CleanMax is designed to deploy renewable energy capacity for India's Commercial & Industrial (C&I) consumer segment. The nodal Union ministry that exclusively administers policy for the promotion and development of grid-connected renewable energy sources such as solar and wind in India is:

  • A. Ministry of Power
  • B. Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change
  • C. Ministry of Heavy Industries
  • D. Ministry of New and Renewable Energy

Q5. Which of the following is the principal renewable-energy developer that Apple Inc. has named as its anchor co-investment partner for the ₹100-crore initial commitment to develop over 150 MW of clean energy capacity in India, announced in May 2026?

  • A. ReNew Energy Global
  • B. Adani Green Energy Ltd.
  • C. Tata Power Renewable Energy Ltd.
  • D. CleanMax Enviro Energy Solutions