UPSC Prelims Practice Questions — NITI Aayog releases three reports on green transition in cement, aluminium and MSME sectors

Q1. The NITI Aayog Roadmap for Aluminium Sector Decarbonisation (2026) recommends a sequenced set of technology solutions to abate emissions as production scales up. Into how many time-bound phases is this pathway of solutions organised?

  • A. Two
  • B. Three
  • C. Four
  • D. Five

Q2. With reference to the NITI Aayog Roadmap for Green Transition of MSMEs (2026), consider the following measures: 1. Deployment of energy-efficient equipment 2. Adoption of alternative fuels 3. Integration of green electricity 4. Mandatory purchase of imported carbon offsets Which of the above is/are correctly identified as the key levers of the roadmap?

  1. Deployment of energy-efficient equipment
  2. Adoption of alternative fuels
  3. Integration of green electricity
  4. Mandatory purchase of imported carbon offsets
  • A. 1 and 2 only
  • B. 1, 2 and 3
  • C. 2, 3 and 4
  • D. 1, 3 and 4

Q3. The NITI Aayog MSME roadmap cites the macro-economic weight of the sector. Consider the following claims about India's MSMEs as stated in the roadmap: 1. They contribute nearly 30% to national GDP. 2. They employ over 250 million people. 3. They account for approximately 46% of exports. 4. They are responsible for about 70% of India's total industrial greenhouse-gas emissions. Which of the above is/are NOT correct?

  1. They contribute nearly 30% to national GDP.
  2. They employ over 250 million people.
  3. They account for approximately 46% of exports.
  4. They are responsible for about 70% of India's total industrial greenhouse-gas emissions.
  • A. 1 only
  • B. 2 and 3
  • C. 4 only
  • D. 1 and 4

Q4. Consider the following statements comparing NITI Aayog's three sectoral decarbonisation roadmaps (January 2026) with its earlier study 'Scenarios Towards Viksit Bharat and Net Zero — Sectoral Insights: Industry' (Vol. 4): 1. The Vol. 4 Industry study assessed emissions across several subsectors including steel, cement, aluminium, textiles and petrochemicals, whereas the 2026 roadmaps provide dedicated pathways for cement, aluminium and MSMEs. 2. Unlike the Vol. 4 Industry study, the three 2026 roadmaps addressed only the MSME sector. 3. Both bodies of work are anchored to reconciling the Viksit Bharat 2047 goal with the net-zero-by-2070 target. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

  1. The Vol. 4 Industry study assessed emissions across several subsectors including steel, cement, aluminium, textiles and petrochemicals, whereas the 2026 roadmaps provide dedicated pathways for cement, aluminium and MSMEs.
  2. Unlike the Vol. 4 Industry study, the three 2026 roadmaps addressed only the MSME sector.
  3. Both bodies of work are anchored to reconciling the Viksit Bharat 2047 goal with the net-zero-by-2070 target.
  • A. 1 only
  • B. 1 and 3 only
  • C. 2 and 3 only
  • D. 1, 2 and 3

Q5. The NITI Aayog roadmaps are framed around India's 'net zero by 2070' commitment. In this context, 'net zero emissions' is best defined as a state in which:

  • A. Anthropogenic greenhouse-gas emissions are balanced by anthropogenic removals of greenhouse gases over a specified period
  • B. All emission of greenhouse gases from human activity is completely and permanently halted
  • C. Greenhouse-gas emissions are reduced to below their 1990 baseline level
  • D. Only carbon-dioxide emissions are offset, while other greenhouse gases are excluded

Q6. India's commitment to achieve net-zero emissions by 2070 — the basis for the NITI Aayog decarbonisation roadmaps — was first announced by the Prime Minister at which of the following forums?

  • A. COP26 UN Climate Change Conference, Glasgow (2021)
  • B. COP27 UN Climate Change Conference, Sharm el-Sheikh (2022)
  • C. COP28 UN Climate Change Conference, Dubai (2023)
  • D. COP21 UN Climate Change Conference, Paris (2015)

Q7. For deep decarbonisation of the cement sector, the NITI Aayog roadmap calls for effective implementation of which market-based carbon-pricing mechanism to incentivise emission reductions?

  • A. Carbon Credit Trading Scheme (CCTS)
  • B. Perform, Achieve and Trade (PAT) scheme
  • C. Renewable Energy Certificate (REC) mechanism
  • D. EU Emissions Trading System (EU ETS)

Q8. The roadmaps note that NITI Aayog is a policy think-tank without statutory enforcement power, so actual implementation rests with the concerned line ministries. Regulation of the aluminium industry, addressed in one of the roadmaps, falls primarily under which of the following ministries?

  • A. Ministry of Mines
  • B. Ministry of Steel
  • C. Ministry of Heavy Industries
  • D. Ministry of Coal

Q9. In the context of hard-to-abate, CO2-intensive industries such as cement, steel and fertilizers, NITI Aayog identifies which single technology as the essential — and in several process-emission cases the only known — deep-decarbonisation lever?

  • A. Carbon Capture, Utilisation and Storage (CCUS)
  • B. Round-the-clock renewable energy
  • C. Green hydrogen
  • D. Nuclear power