UPSC Prelims Practice Questions — PARLIAMENT QUESTION: SMALL MODULAR REACTORS FOR CLEAN AND LOW-CARBON ENERGY

Question 1

Under whose classification is a nuclear reactor with a capacity of up to 300 MWe per module categorized as a Small Modular Reactor, as cited in Government of India replies?

Accepted Answer

International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA)

Answer

International Energy Agency (IEA)

Answer

Nuclear Energy Agency of the OECD

Answer

World Association of Nuclear Operators (WANO)

Question 2

The Nuclear Energy Mission, set up with an outlay of ₹20,000 crore in the Union Budget 2025-26, is primarily dedicated to the research and development of which one of the following?

Accepted Answer

Small Modular Reactors (SMRs)

Answer

Prototype Fast Breeder Reactors

Answer

Thorium–Uranium-233 reactors

Answer

Nuclear fusion tokamaks

Question 3

In BARC's advanced reactor programme, the High-Temperature Gas-Cooled Reactor (HTGR) of up to 5 MWth is being developed primarily for which one of the following purposes?

Accepted Answer

Hydrogen generation for decarbonising the transport sector and process industries

Answer

Exclusively grid-scale baseload electricity supply for metropolitan cities

Answer

Only the desalination of seawater in coastal off-grid areas

Answer

Breeding of Uranium-233 from thorium for Stage-3 reactors

Question 4

The Department of Atomic Energy (DAE), the apex body for India's nuclear programme functioning directly under the Prime Minister, was established in which year?

Accepted Answer

1954

Answer

1948

Answer

1958

Answer

1962

Question 5

As indicated in Government replies, how many distinct indigenous advanced/small reactor designs (including the HTGR) is BARC currently developing under its Small Modular Reactor programme?

Accepted Answer

Three

Answer

Two

Answer

Four

Answer

Five

Question 6

In India's three-stage nuclear programme, a Fast Breeder Reactor is best described as a reactor that:

Accepted Answer

Produces more fissile material than it consumes, and can breed Uranium-233 from thorium

Answer

Uses natural uranium as fuel and heavy water as moderator to generate power

Answer

Directly burns thorium as fuel without any conversion step

Answer

Uses low-enriched uranium moderated by light water for baseload supply

Question 7

To enable active partnership with the private sector in the nuclear energy sector, the Union Budget 2025-26 proposed amendments to how many existing legislations?

Accepted Answer

Two

Answer

One

Answer

Three

Answer

Four

UPSC Prelims Practice Questions — PARLIAMENT QUESTION: SMALL MODULAR REACTORS FOR CLEAN AND LOW-CARBON ENERGY

Q1. Under whose classification is a nuclear reactor with a capacity of up to 300 MWe per module categorized as a Small Modular Reactor, as cited in Government of India replies?

Q2. The Nuclear Energy Mission, set up with an outlay of ₹20,000 crore in the Union Budget 2025-26, is primarily dedicated to the research and development of which one of the following?

Q3. In BARC's advanced reactor programme, the High-Temperature Gas-Cooled Reactor (HTGR) of up to 5 MWth is being developed primarily for which one of the following purposes?

Q4. The Department of Atomic Energy (DAE), the apex body for India's nuclear programme functioning directly under the Prime Minister, was established in which year?

Q5. As indicated in Government replies, how many distinct indigenous advanced/small reactor designs (including the HTGR) is BARC currently developing under its Small Modular Reactor programme?

Q6. In India's three-stage nuclear programme, a Fast Breeder Reactor is best described as a reactor that:

Q7. To enable active partnership with the private sector in the nuclear energy sector, the Union Budget 2025-26 proposed amendments to how many existing legislations?