UPSC Prelims Practice Questions — Cabinet panel okays 84% hike to HPCL project cost

Q1. In April 2026, the CCEA approved a revision of the project cost of HPCL Rajasthan Refinery Limited (HRRL). What is the revised total project cost approved?

  • A. ₹79,459 crore
  • B. ₹43,129 crore
  • C. ₹19,600 crore
  • D. ₹8,962 crore

Q2. In the CCEA's 2026 approval for HRRL, the figure of ₹8,962 crore refers to which one of the following?

  • A. The additional equity to be infused by HPCL, raising its total equity investment to ₹19,600 crore
  • B. The revised total project cost of the HRRL complex
  • C. The equity contribution of the Government of Rajasthan under the joint venture
  • D. The projected annual reduction in India's petrochemical import bill after commissioning

Q3. With reference to the HPCL Rajasthan Refinery Limited (HRRL) joint venture, consider the following statements. Which of the statements given above is/are NOT correct?

  1. HRRL is a joint venture between HPCL and the Government of Rajasthan.
  2. HPCL is a public-sector undertaking under the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas.
  3. The Government of Rajasthan holds the majority equity stake of 74% in HRRL.
  4. HRRL is being set up as a greenfield refinery-cum-petrochemical complex.
  • A. 1 and 2
  • B. 2 and 4
  • C. 1, 3 and 4
  • D. 3 only

Q4. The HRRL refinery is located at Pachpadra, which now lies in which one of the following districts of Rajasthan?

  • A. Balotra
  • B. Barmer
  • C. Jodhpur
  • D. Jaisalmer

Q5. Of the 9 MMTPA of crude that the HRRL refinery is planned to process, approximately how much per annum is expected to come from the nearby Mangala (Barmer basin) crude?

  • A. 4.5 MMTPA
  • B. 9 MMTPA
  • C. 2.4 MMTPA
  • D. 1 MMTPA

Q6. What is the petrochemical production capacity of the HRRL refinery-cum-petrochemical complex?

  • A. 2.4 MMTPA
  • B. 9 MMTPA
  • C. 4 MMTPA
  • D. 1 MMTPA

Q7. HRRL is described as a 'greenfield' refinery-cum-petrochemical complex. In this context, the term 'greenfield' most precisely refers to which one of the following?

  • A. A refinery built entirely new on a previously undeveloped site, as opposed to an expansion of an existing facility
  • B. A refinery designed to run exclusively on renewable or bio-based feedstock
  • C. A refinery certified as carbon-neutral under national environmental norms
  • D. A capacity addition (brownfield expansion) at an already-operating refinery

Q8. HRRL is expected to advance India's petrochemical self-reliance by domestically producing feedstocks/polymers currently imported. Consider the following. Which of the above is/are correctly identified as part of HRRL's petrochemical product slate?

  1. Polypropylene
  2. Linear Low Density Polyethylene (LLDPE)
  3. Bitumen
  4. High Density Polyethylene (HDPE)
  • A. 1, 2 and 4
  • B. 2, 3 and 4
  • C. 1 and 3 only
  • D. 1, 2, 3 and 4