UPSC Prelims Practice Questions — The case for building India’s coal chemistry capability

Q1. Consider the following statements comparing coal gasification with conventional coal combustion: 1. Combustion fully oxidises coal to release heat, whereas gasification is a partial-oxidation process that yields syngas. 2. The syngas from gasification consists mainly of carbon monoxide and hydrogen, unlike the flue gas of combustion which is largely carbon dioxide and nitrogen. 3. Unlike combustion, gasification cannot provide feedstock for fertilisers such as ammonia and urea. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

1. Combustion fully oxidises coal to release heat, whereas gasification is a partial-oxidation process that yields syngas.
2. The syngas from gasification consists mainly of carbon monoxide and hydrogen, unlike the flue gas of combustion which is largely carbon dioxide and nitrogen.
3. Unlike combustion, gasification cannot provide feedstock for fertilisers such as ammonia and urea.

• A. 1 only
• B. 1 and 2 only
• C. 2 and 3 only
• D. 1, 2 and 3

Q2. Consider the following statements about India's coal endowment: 1. India holds the fifth-largest coal reserves in the world, estimated at about 401 billion tonnes as of 2025. 2. In contrast to its abundant non-coking coal, India relies heavily on imports of coking coal for its steel sector. 3. Lignite is classified as a higher-rank coal than bituminous coal. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

1. India holds the fifth-largest coal reserves in the world, estimated at about 401 billion tonnes as of 2025.
2. In contrast to its abundant non-coking coal, India relies heavily on imports of coking coal for its steel sector.
3. Lignite is classified as a higher-rank coal than bituminous coal.

• A. 1 only
• B. 1 and 2 only
• C. 2 and 3 only
• D. 1, 2 and 3

Q3. Under the 2025 Scheme for Promotion of Surface Coal/Lignite Gasification Projects (outlay ₹37,500 crore), what is the maximum financial incentive that any single entity group can receive across all its projects?

• A. ₹5,000 crore
• B. ₹9,000 crore
• C. ₹12,000 crore
• D. ₹37,500 crore

Q4. The Scheme for Promotion of Surface Coal/Lignite Gasification Projects, with a financial outlay of ₹37,500 crore, was approved in 2025 by which authority?

• A. The Union Cabinet chaired by the Prime Minister
• B. The NITI Aayog Governing Council
• C. The Cabinet Committee on Security
• D. The Ministry of Coal by executive notification

Q5. The September 2025 national workshop on 'Coal Gasification Technology for Indian High Ash Content Coal' held at NITI Bhawan was organised by which body?

• A. Ministry of Coal
• B. NITI Aayog
• C. Central Institute of Mining and Fuel Research (CIMFR)
• D. Bharat Heavy Electricals Limited (BHEL)

Q6. At the September 2025 NITI Aayog workshop, which gasification technology was highlighted as the most suitable for India's high-ash-content (25–45%) coal?

• A. Entrained-flow gasification
• B. Fixed-bed (Lurgi) gasification
• C. Circulating fluidized bed gasification
• D. Molten-salt gasification

Q7. With reference to the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), consider the following: 1. It is an autonomous body established in 1942. 2. It functions under the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research, Ministry of Science and Technology. 3. The Central Institute of Mining and Fuel Research (CIMFR) is a constituent laboratory of CSIR. 4. R.A. Mashelkar is the current Director General of CSIR. Which of the above is/are correctly identified?

1. It is an autonomous body established in 1942.
2. It functions under the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research, Ministry of Science and Technology.
3. The Central Institute of Mining and Fuel Research (CIMFR) is a constituent laboratory of CSIR.
4. R.A. Mashelkar is the current Director General of CSIR.

• A. 1 and 2 only
• B. 1, 2 and 3
• C. 2, 3 and 4
• D. 1, 2, 3 and 4

Q8. India's first-ever Underground Coal Gasification (UCG) pilot project, launched in the Kasta block of Jamtara district, Jharkhand, to convert unmineable coal into syngas, is being implemented by which entity?

• A. Oil and Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC)
• B. Eastern Coalfields Limited, a subsidiary of Coal India Limited
• C. GAIL (India) Limited
• D. NTPC Limited

Q9. With reference to coal chemistry as a lever for Atmanirbhar Bharat and import substitution, consider the following: 1. Ammonia is almost entirely (~100%) imported by India, and coal-based gasification offers a domestic substitute. 2. The surface gasification scheme aims to gasify about 75 MT of coal/lignite, advancing the national target of 100 MT by 2030. 3. Coal gasification initiatives are aligned with the Atmanirbhar Bharat and Make in India frameworks. 4. India currently imports none of its methanol requirement. Which of the above is/are correctly identified?

1. Ammonia is almost entirely (~100%) imported by India, and coal-based gasification offers a domestic substitute.
2. The surface gasification scheme aims to gasify about 75 MT of coal/lignite, advancing the national target of 100 MT by 2030.
3. Coal gasification initiatives are aligned with the Atmanirbhar Bharat and Make in India frameworks.
4. India currently imports none of its methanol requirement.

• A. 1 and 4 only
• B. 2 and 3 only
• C. 1, 2 and 3
• D. 1, 2, 3 and 4